The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice,
says the Lord,
I know them and they follow me. JN 10:27
ACTS 15:7-21 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
The First Council took place in Jerusalem when a serious problem regarding circumcision arose. Some Pharisees who had become believers insisted it was necessary whereas Paul and Barnabas insisted it was not and they went on to describe the signs and wonders God had worked through them among the pagans.
After lengthy discussions, Peter, the one chosen by You to hold primacy of place among the Apostles, stood up and addressed the Council. Summing up all that the Holy Spirit had taught him and revealed to him with regard to pagans who came to believe in You, he said, 'God, who can read everyone’s heart, showed his approval of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he had to us. God made no distinction between them and us, since he purified their hearts by faith.'
All who believe in You, Beloved, and are baptized become children of God regardless of who they once were or where they come from. Sinner and saint have a seat at Your Table, we are saved by grace received through You, our Lord and Savior.
Beloved, when we quibble and quarrel create dissension and division among the people of God, nitpick and criticize, and self-righteously make uncharitable comparisons unworthy of the people of God we stand in real danger of stirring Your anger. If we insist on imposing unnecessary burdens on believers then we too would be guilty of doing the same things that the teachers of the Mosaic law were guilty of doing.
After Peter had spoken James spoke up as well reminding them that the prophets themselves had foreseen the day when all nations would come to believe in the One, Living, and True God.
James in union with Peter concluded the Council saying:
‘I rule, then, that instead of making things more difficult for pagans who turn to God, we send them a letter telling them merely to abstain from anything polluted by idols, from fornication, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has always had his preachers in every town, and is read aloud in the synagogues every sabbath.’
And so it is in the Church to this day and until You return. Peter has the power to bind and loose, the Bishops as well, but only and always in union with Peter.
JOHN 15:9-11 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
Thank You, Lord, for assuring us of the quality of Your love for us who believe in You and are Your disciples. We are loved by You to the same infinite degree with which the Father loves You. You desire that we never be separated from Your love by sin and the one way to ensure that we live and abide in Your love is to keep Your commandments. The entire law is summarized and condensed in just two commandments - the first is to love God with our whole heart, whole soul, whole mind, and all our strength, and the second is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
You kept both perfectly - the first by Your total humility, obedience, and submission to the Father's will and the second by laying down Your life for us sinners in order to redeem and save us, and by giving us a share in Your own glorious inheritance.
The only way to possess joy in abundance in all circumstances is to remain rooted in You and to obey Your commandments. Despite all the sorrows, difficulties, and crosses, that we are called to bear in this life, if we obey Your commandments and embrace Your will in all things, You will provide all the graces we need to rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances. We will then be true salt and light in the world.
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