Acts 15:7-21, Psalm 96:1-3, 10, John 15:9-11
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AGAINST ALL ODDS
"The whole assembly fell silent." —Acts 15:12
A serious dispute broke out in the church at Antioch about the need for
Gentile converts to be circumcised as a prerequisite for salvation. Paul
and Barnabas said 'No.' Some other Jewish Christians said 'Yes.' "Finally
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some others should go up to see
the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem about this question" (Acts 15:2).
Talk about a stacked deck! The "apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem" were
mainly circumcised Jewish men. Moreover, Jerusalem was the center of the
Jewish faith. Seemingly, the odds of getting a decision against
circumcision in Jerusalem would rival the odds of outlawing St. Patrick's
Day in Dublin, Ireland!
Paul and Barnabas showed tremendous submission to the authority of the
Church by leaving their Gentile Christian stronghold in Antioch to present
their case in circumcised Jerusalem. They also displayed great faith in
God's ability to act through the leaders of the Church, and trusted their
leaders to follow the Holy Spirit. Likewise, the apostles and presbyters
acted with true humility and docility by listening to the Lord and not
presuming they knew God's will all along. All of them submitted themselves
to the authority of Peter, the first Pope. At Peter's words, "the whole
assembly fell silent" (Acts 15:12).
May all Catholics today imitate the early Church in her humility, order,
submission, and trust in God's will.
Prayer: Father, may we obey our leaders, submit to them, and "act that
they may fulfill their task with joy, not with sorrow" (Heb 13:17).
Promise: "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you." —Jn 15:9
Praise: Rick teaches others to submit to difficult Church teachings even
when their understanding of such things is not complete.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from April
1, 2010 through May 31, 2010
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, October 9, 2009
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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