Short and sweet again today. Why were the people so delighted in today’s first reading?
‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us
not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these,
you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'”
And so they were sent on their journey.
Upon their arrival in Antioch
they called the assembly together and delivered the letter.
When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.
It is quite simple – out of the first Council of the Church, the Gentile men no longer had to be circumcised! Can you imagine how many people converted after that decision? Can you imagine how the ones who converted and were circumcised as adults felt? Can you imagine today how hard it would be to convince a man to convert to the Faith if he to undergo this particular surgery in order to be brought into full communion with the Church? I’m thinking that might have been and would still be today a stumbling block to full conversion. To quote my favorite quarterback – Kurt Warner – “Thank you Jesus!!!”
In today’s Gospel – Jesus gave it to us short and sweet. He summarized our entire mission into three short, simple words…love one another.
Do something great for our Lord today.
God’s will, not mine be done.
Be not afraid.
Jesus, I trust in you.
St. Mary Magdalen Men of God 