LECTIO:
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders
about this question.
The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church,
decided to choose representatives
and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
This is the letter delivered by them:
“The apostles and the elders, your brothers,
to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
of Gentile origin: greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number
who went out without any mandate from us
have upset you with their teachings
and disturbed your peace of mind,
we have with one accord decided to choose representatives
and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas and Silas
who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
‘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.’”
STUDIUM:
This controversy led to the first Council,the Council of Jerusalem, quite the defining moment in the early Church. The discussion was about the status of the Gentile believers. Some insisted that everyone had to be circumcised. Others said to leave the initiation into the church to the grace of God. Here is where the Church breaks with the religion of Israel. The Catholic Community will embrace all nations.
Note that the Antioch Church looked to the Church in Jerusalem for guidance. The deliberations and decisions were led by the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised would happen.
MEDITATIO:
I think how upsetting this debate must have been. It certainly must have turned many "rules are rules" people away. There is no mention of that. But you can never get everyone to agree to everything. Consensus must have been reached. And so a precedent was set.
ORATIO:
Lord, help me to be obedient to You. Give me the grace to humbly accept the laws of the Church, the Corporal Works of Mercy and the Spiritual Works, not to mention the Beatitudes. Give me the grace to listen to the Church before criticizing, like I know better. Let the Holy Spirit be my guide.
CONTEMPLATIO:
I believe in the Church and what it teaches, not because I understand everything, but because I trust that the Holy Spirit guides it.
RESOLUTIO:
No more being so quick to criticize. I will try to understand and when I can't I will trust.
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