Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B)

First Reading - Acts 15.1-2, 4-6, 8-11

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Paul and Barnabas were once again in Antioch, in Syria. Some disciples arrived from Judea, and began teaching the believers in Antioch that unless they kept the entire law of Moses, they could not be saved. Paul and Barnabas argued against them. And eventually it was decided that Paul and Barnabas would go to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders, and that some of the other believers would go with them. When the group arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the apostles and the elders, and by the whole church; and they reported all that God was doing amongst the believers in Antioch. But amongst the believers in Jerusalem were some who were also loyal to the Pharisees; and they insisted that the believers in Antioch should be ordered to keep the entire law of Moses. So the apostles and the elders met to consider the matter. After much debate, Peter stood up, and said to them, ‘It seems that God, who knows every human heart, has poured out the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles, just as God poured out the Holy Spirit upon us. And in cleansing their hearts by faith, God has made no distinction between them and us. Why would we now challenge what God has done for them, by placing upon them a burden so great that neither our ancestors nor we ourselves have been able to bear it? We have come to believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus - and surely it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that the Gentiles also will be saved.’ This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - 1 John 4.7-10

A reading from the first letter of John. My brothers and sisters, love is from God, so let us love one another. Whoever does not love does not know God. And whoever does love does know God, and is a child of God; for God is love. God’s love for us is revealed in this: that God sent God’s only Son into the world to draw us to fullness of life in him. And this is love: not that we loved God, but that God loved us, and sent God’s Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sin. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - John 15.9-17

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; now remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. All this I say so that you may be my delight; and your own joy may be complete. This is my commandment: that you love one another, as I have loved you. And there is no greater love than this: that you lay down your life for your friends. You are my friends, if you keep my commandments. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you, and I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, and the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. All of this, I say to you to direct you to love one another.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.