The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the laws we follow that support our desire to follow the Way of abiding in Jesus.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the Council of Jerusalem.
* [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).
* [15:14] Symeon: elsewhere in Acts he is called either Peter or Simon. The presence of the name Symeon here suggests that, in the source Luke is using for this part of the Jerusalem “Council” incident, the name may have originally referred to someone other than Peter (see Acts 13:1 where the Antiochene Symeon Niger is mentioned). As the text now stands, however, it is undoubtedly a reference to Simon Peter (Acts 15:7). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 96 offers praise to 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 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus exhorts us to abide in His love.
* [15:1–16:4] Discourse on the union of Jesus with his disciples. His words become a monologue and go beyond the immediate crisis of the departure of Jesus. (John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
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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 when Jesus tells us, “Remain in my love,” we can receive it as an invitation to do a spiritual version of Swedish death cleaning. We can ask whether there are other loves—false loves—that are distracting us, burdening us, or preventing us from fully remaining in the love of Jesus.
Jesus promised that as we remain in his love, his joy will be in us and our joy will “be complete” (John 15:11). Like the people who practice Swedish death cleaning but on a much deeper level, our hearts will be lighter and our minds will be clearer.
“Jesus, your love is all I need! Help me to remain in that love.” (Meditation on John 15:9-11, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the account of the Council of Jerusalem where Paul and Barnabas receive the rules that Gentile converts should observe. The earlier version of this meeting in Galatians emphasizes the role of Paul and requires no observance of Mosaic Law by the Gentile converts. Friar Jude reminds us of the joy, not happiness, that we experience as we attend to the mission of abiding in Jesus.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Episcopal priest and spiritual director Margaret Guenther (1929–2016) reflects upon the challenge of “true” simplicity.
We grow in generosity as we embrace simplicity. We are able to hold all things lightly and, if need be, let them go—our possessions, our money, our pretensions, even our anger, our prejudices, and our fears. But the letting-go, if it is the fruit of generous simplicity, can never be coerced. It must be joyful, and it must be voluntary. It is not to be confused with spiritual deadness, living without passion. Indeed, we live more passionately because we are set free from the burdensome work of holding on tightly to anything that comes within our grasp. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
We invite the Holy Spirit to guide us in the path that abides in the Love of Christ and serves the needs of the people we encounter on our journey.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/15?7
John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?9
Meditation on John 15:9-11. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/05/02/947510/
Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Set Free from Holding Tightly. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/set-free-from-holding-tightly/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Abide in My Love. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=may2
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