Fifth Wednesday of Eastertide – Acts 15:1-6; John 15:1-8
“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
In the early Church, some insisted that salvation required strict adherence to old rituals like circumcision. Today, we still face “spiritual checklists” – the idea that we are saved only by belonging to the right clique or following human-made rules. But Saint Peter reminds us of a beautiful, liberating truth: God, who knows every heart, saves us through the grace of the Lord Jesus.
Grace is a free gift, but it is also a call to intimacy. Jesus tells us, “Remain in me.” Like branches on a vine, our spiritual life depends entirely on this connection. To remain in Him is not about empty words, but about living the Great Commandment: loving God and neighbour.
True faith never imposes crushing burdens that stifle the soul. Instead, it flows from a heart purified by faith and overflowing with charity. As followers of Christ, we are called to lift others up, not weigh them down with legalism. When we love as He loves – sacrificially and sincerely – we truly abide in the Vine. Today, let grace be your foundation and love be your fruit. You are saved by His mercy; now go and live joyfully in His love.
