First Reading: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
Reflection:
In this Sunday’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about the first Church council that was held in Jerusalem. The issue at hand was whether or not Gentiles who came to faith in Jesus had to be circumcised in order to be saved. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant with God enacted with Abraham in the Old Testament. It set the Israelites apart from Gentiles (meaning “other nations”). But with the coming of Jesus, the way was opened for the Gentiles to also be part of the covenant family of God. As Gentiles, who were uncircumcised, converted to Christianity in the early Church, the question soon arose as to whether or not they should have to abide by the Jewish ceremonial laws in order for them to be full members of the Church. This debate was brought before the Apostles in Jerusalem to be discerned. In other words, it was up to the leadership of the Church, under the authority of Peter (the first pope), to decide this important matter for the entire Church. After some debate and hearing the testimony of those who had been spreading the gospel among the Gentiles, the Apostles decided that circumcision should not be imposed upon the Gentiles. In other words, the Jewish ceremonial laws (including circumcision) were not required for salvation. They then wrote a letter in which this decision was decreed and they made clear what the Gentiles did need to uphold (namely, “to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage”). This letter was then sent out to make clear the binding decision of the leaders of the Church. In the letter, the Apostles declared that “‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us…” Thus, the decision was not made merely by human beings but by God communicating through the leaders He had appointed for the Church and whom He guided by the Holy Spirit. God had, in other words, revealed to the Apostles what they were to do and upon their authority they declared that decision to the Church. This is still true today. The Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church and lead it to the truth, especially through the Pope and bishops who are the successors of the Apostles. This is just as Jesus promised would happen in this Sunday’s gospel reading.
Second Reading: Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23
Reflection:
This Sunday’s readings provide meditations on the nature of the Church. We saw in the first reading the importance of the leadership of the Church and their guidance by the Holy Spirit in addressing the issues of their day. John’s vision of heaven here focuses on the “holy city Jerusalem,” which is an image of the Church. The Lord God is the Temple in this city, illustrating how the Church is centered upon and in unity with God. Furthermore, the city has twelve stones with the names of the apostles inscribed on them as its foundation. This illustrates, in conjunction with the first reading, the important role of the apostles as foundational to the Church. As we declare in the Creed each Sunday, the Church is “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.” These marks of the Church are illustrated here, along with in the Gospel reading in which Jesus promised the guidance of the Holy Spirit to the Church.
Gospel Reading: John 14:23-29
Reflection:
These words of Jesus were spoken to the Apostles at the Last Supper on the night before His crucifixion. He explained that true disciples express their love for Him through obedience to His commandments. We might think of this as analogous to a relationship between a parent and a child. If a child says to his mom or dad, “I love you,” and then goes about intentionally disobeying them, those words lose their meaning. In other words, love is more than just a word, it is an action. To love God, we must do more than just say we do. We must act it out in our lives. We do that through obeying His commandments. By intentionally living out the teachings of Jesus in our lives, we express our love for Him and witness that love to the world. But, how do we know what Jesus taught? The Church is the means by which God’s commandments are preserved, understood, and communicated to us. In other words, to obey the Church’s teachings, is to obey the Lord. This is because the Church is not a man-made institution. It is, rather, a God-instituted and guided community. The Church’s leadership, founded upon the Apostles, is guided by the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised here, and was illustrated in the first reading. The Holy Spirit will never lead the Church astray. Thus, we can trust the Church and its leadership to teach the truth. And we can express our love for the Lord through living out the teachings of the Church in our lives. Living this way, as Jesus expressed, will lead to peace. And the peace that Jesus gives is “not as the world gives,” which is a fleeting, circumstantial peace. Rather, Jesus offers true peace that transcends circumstances. We find that peace through living our lives in accordance with the will of God.
Application:
Think about in what areas of your life you need to grow in obedience to the Lord through better following the teachings of the Church. How can you better express love to Jesus through doing His will?
