Daily Mass Readings – Sunday, 25 April 2027

26 And when he was come into Jerusalem, he essayed to join himself to the disciples; and they all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him; and how in Damascus he had dealt confidently in the name of Jesus.

28 And he was with them coming in and going out in Jerusalem, and dealing confidently in the name of the Lord.

29 He spoke also to the Gentiles, and disputed with the Greeks; but they sought to kill him.

30 Which when the brethren had known, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.

31 Now the church had peace throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; and was edified, walking in the fear of the Lord, and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Ghost.

R. (26a) I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

or

R. Alleluia.

26 With thee is my praise in a great church: I will pay my vows in the sight of them that fear him.

27 The poor shall eat and shall be filled: and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their hearts shall live for ever and ever.

R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

or

R. Alleluia.

28 All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted to the Lord: And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight.

30 All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and have adored: all they that go down to the earth shall fall before him.

R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

or

R. Alleluia.

31 And to him my soul shall live: and my seed shall serve him.

32 There shall be declared to the Lord a generation to come: and the heavens shall shew forth his justice to a people that shall be born, which the Lord hath made.

R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

or

R. Alleluia.

18 My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth.

19 In this we know that we are of the truth: and in his sight shall persuade our hearts.

20 For if our heart reprehend us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21 Dearly beloved, if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence towards God:

22 And whatsoever we shall ask, we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.

23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ: and love one another, as he hath given commandment unto us.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments, abideth in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

4a, 5b Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord. Whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

1 I am the true vine; and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me, that beareth not fruit, he will take away: and every one that beareth fruit, he will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now you are clean by reason of the word, which I have spoken to you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me.

5 I am the vine: you the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

6 If any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burneth.

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 In this is my Father glorified; that you bring forth very much fruit, and become my disciples.

A branch has no life apart from the vine. Jesus speaks with great clarity: “Without me you can do nothing.” Our fruitfulness begins by abiding in him—allowing his word to remain in us, accepting the Father’s pruning, and drawing life from the grace he gives. The fruit he desires is not an impressive appearance, but love lived “in deed, and in truth.” Our actions become evidence that Christ remains in us.

The first Christians saw this fruit in Saul, whose encounter with the risen Lord changed the direction of his life. The disciples were afraid of him, yet Barnabas welcomed him and testified to God’s work in him. Through that courageous act, Saul was received into the community and began speaking boldly in Jesus’ name. The Church then grew in peace, faith, and the consolation of the Holy Spirit. The psalm widens the horizon: every people is summoned to remember the Lord and praise him. When we remain in Christ, his love can make us patient enough to recognize grace in another person, brave enough to support it, and faithful enough to serve beyond our own circle.

Lord Jesus, true Vine, keep me close to you when my strength is small and my heart is uncertain. Let your word take root in me, and receive with humility the pruning that makes my life more faithful. Teach me to love through patient, concrete actions, especially when another person’s growth is difficult to recognize. Give me the generosity of Barnabas, so that I may encourage the work of your grace in your people. By your Holy Spirit, make my life fruitful for the peace and unity of your Church, and draw all peoples into your praise. Amen.