The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the boundaries we observe when we follow Jesus in acting in love towards all people.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles the Council of Jerusalem proclaims James on Dietary Law.
* [15:13–35] Some scholars think that this apostolic decree suggested by James, the immediate leader of the Jerusalem community, derives from another historical occasion than the meeting in question. This seems to be the case if the meeting is the same as the one related in Gal 2:1–10. According to that account, nothing was imposed upon Gentile Christians in respect to Mosaic law; whereas the decree instructs Gentile Christians of mixed communities to abstain from meats sacrificed to idols and from blood-meats, and to avoid marriage within forbidden degrees of consanguinity and affinity (Lv 18), all of which practices were especially abhorrent to Jews. Luke seems to have telescoped two originally independent incidents here: the first a Jerusalem “Council” that dealt with the question of circumcision, and the second a Jerusalem decree dealing mainly with Gentile observance of dietary laws (see Acts 21:25 where Paul seems to be learning of the decree for the first time). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 15, n.d.)
Psalm 96 praises God Who Comes in Judgement
* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33. (Psalms, PSALM 96, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus offers an admonition to remain in His Love.
* [15:1–17] Like Jn 10:1–5, this passage resembles a parable. Israel is spoken of as a vineyard at Is 5:1–7; Mt 21:33–46 and as a vine at Ps 80:9–17; Jer 2:21; Ez 15:2; 17:5–10; 19:10; Hos 10:1. The identification of the vine as the Son of Man in Ps 80:15 and Wisdom’s description of herself as a vine in Sir 24:17 are further background for portrayal of Jesus by this figure. There may be secondary eucharistic symbolism here; cf. Mk 14:25, “the fruit of the vine.” (John, CHAPTER 15, n.d.)
Mary Lee Brock comments that being invited to keep the commandments in a spirit of love is uplifting rather than being mandated to do so out of fear. Jesus encourages us by saying: "I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete." What a gift to be reminded that Jesus is eager to love us. Artforms such as film and paintings can help us enter into a story in a deep way.
As our season of Easter continues, I pray with these questions: Where do I experience the invitation to feel the embrace of God’s love? How can I live God’s commandments in a spirit of love and joy rather than through fear of retribution? When can I see the teachings of Jesus depicted in various forms of art? What needs to happen to ensure that I continue to make spending time with those I love a priority in these busy days?
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. Sing to the LORD; bless his name. (Brock, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Joy in rejoicing over us,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"And what else is Christ's joy in us except that he is pleased to rejoice over us? And what is this joy of ours that he says is to be made full, but our having fellowship with him?... His joy, therefore, in us is the grace he has bestowed on us, and that is also our joy. But he rejoiced over this joy even from eternity when he chose us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Nor can we rightly say that his joy was not full. For God's joy was never at any time imperfect. But that joy of his was not in us. For we, in whom that joy could exist, had as yet no existence. And even when our existence commenced, it began not to be in him. But in him it always was, who in the infallible truth of his own foreknowledge rejoiced that we should yet be his own. Accordingly, he had a joy over us that was already full when he rejoiced in foreknowing and foreordaining us. And there could hardly be any fear intermingling in that joy of his that might imply a possible failure in what he foreknew would be done by himself." (excerpt from TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 83.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 15:9-11 comments that we show our love for Jesus through our actions, especially by the way we love other people. God wants us to treat each other with the same dignity, respect, kindness, and forgiveness that Jesus has for them. As Jesus said immediately after today’s Gospel, “This is my commandment: love one another” (John 15:12).
So instead of looking at Jesus’ commandments as chores, try thinking of them as your path to joy. Remind yourself that he has given you his command to love “so that my joy might be in you” (John 15:11). You are building his kingdom by your actions—and you are keeping yourself safe in his love at the same time. How could you not rejoice?
“Jesus, teach me to love as you love so that I can know your joy.” (Meditation on John 15:9-11, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on Luke’s account of the Council of Jerusalem and the demands it puts on Gentile Christians. The demands in Acts are missing in the letter to the Galatians and resonate with Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, written later. Friar Jude notes that the joy of keeping the Commandments reinforces the Love of God that desires us to have joy in being where God intends us to be.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares how St. Paul spread Jesus’ message of equality and human dignity through the power of the Holy Spirit. One of the reasons Paul’s teachings had so much influence in Asia Minor was that he restored human dignity at a time when the region was a key source of enslaved people, women were considered the property of men, temple prostitution was a form of worship, and oppression and injustice toward poor and marginalized people were universal norms. Most of the world was not yet aware that human rights even existed. Paul shouts into this corrupt and corrupting empire, “One and the same Spirit was given to us all to drink!”
This is quite amazing, considering the divided world at the time! In Paul’s estimation, the old world was forever gone, and a new world was born. This was surely impossible and frightening to some people, but utterly attractive and hopeful to the majority who had been given no dignity whatsoever. Who does not want to be told they are worthy and good? Who does not want their social shame taken away? No longer was the human body a cheap thing, degraded by slavery, or sexual, verbal, and physical abuse. Paul is saying, “You are the very temple of God.” Scholars now believe this is Paul’s supreme and organizing idea. Such an unexpected affirmation of human dignity began to turn the whole Roman Empire around. (Rohr, 2023)
We are prompted by the Spirit to act with love and respect for all people as we ponder Jesus' admonition to keep the Commandments.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 15. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 11, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/15?7
Brock, M. L. (2023, May 10). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 11, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051123.html
John, CHAPTER 15. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 11, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?9
Meditation on John 15:9-11. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 11, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/05/11/676373/
Psalms, PSALM 96. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 11, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?1
Rohr, R. (2023, May 11). We Are Temples of God — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/we-are-temples-of-god-2023-05-11/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Abide in My Love. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 11, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=may11
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