Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I don’t know if Mother Church does this on purpose, but I found humor in the way the first reading finished and the Psalm that was chosen for today.  Take a few minutes to read our passages for the day.

To paraphrase from a an old Christmas carol – “Do you read what I read?”

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”

Circumcision?  To an ADULT male?

But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers
stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them
and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”

I have ask the question of all the adult men reading this, would you have done this?  I gotta ask myself – would I have gotten a circumcision as an adult?  I gotta think at this time you are all wondering – what the heck is so funny about this?

There is one last line in the first reading…The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.  We go from that line to…Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.  That is what I found funny – I don’t think any of the Gentile men were ready to go rejoicing to the house of the Lord after being told they would have to be circumcised when they got there.  If i was told that news, I’m would be thinking about the passage that referenced wailing and grinding of teeth!

There is good news ahead for them; stay tuned to tomorrow’s readings.

 There is also great news given to us by Jesus in our Gospel.  We are told today that Christ is the vine and we are the branches and all who live in Him will bear much fruit.  We are physically a part of this holy vine, we are truly a part of Christ.  But we must maintain that faith; we must stay faithful to Christ or we will wither and be pruned and thrown out.  So if my choice is to remain faithful to Christ and in doing so…If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.  By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.  Or the other option is…Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.  With that in mind, the words of a Kathy Troccoli tune come to mind…I will choose Christ, I will choose Love, I choose to Serve.  I give my heart, I give my life, I give my all to You.  Amen.

Do something great for our Lord today – be that vine off of His branch; be fruitful; be a disciple for the Lord.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.