Change is contradiction

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer some apparent contradiction. In the passage from the Book of Acts, we see that Paul is traveling to Jerusalem in hopes of resolution of the dilemma among early Christians about the practices required of Gentiles who were baptized into the Way of following Jesus. Friar Jude Winkler explains that these Gentile converts were joining a group of Jews who had accepted Jesus as Messiah. Many, especially converts from the Pharisees, expected that the practice of circumcision and observance of Jewish dietary laws would be required of these baptized Gentiles. The Gospel of John is Jesus characterization of the relationship between Himself and people as that of vine and branches. This is a picture both of the intimacy desired by the Divine with people and the surrender of the branch to the pruning of the Vinedresser to bear fruit. Does this pruning mean adherence to the orthodoxy of practice within the rules and regulations of the religion? The great joy brought to the believers, testified in the Acts of the Apostles, is evidence of the movement of the Spirit in the changes of first century Christian practice. The Spirit continues to lead to Life today. The path to bearing greater fruit depends on living in the Presence of the Vine. The direction to joy in the life will contradict our current concepts and practices.