Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 15:1-2 & 22-29; Rev 21:10-14 & 22-23; Jn 14:23-29 (Year C)
"Some men came from Judaea and taught the brothers: ‘Unless you have yourselves circumcised in the tradition of Moses you cannot be saved.’ This led to disagreement.”
Unanimity has never been a distinguishing characteristic of the human condition. It was therefore almost inevitable that the early Church, from within its own congregations, would soon encounter disagreement. When disagreement gives way to prideful intransigence, it becomes a sinful and destructive force. Thus, when the question of circumcision and Mosaic observance became a divisive issue, Paul and Barnabas surrendered the case to the Holy Spirit and to the Apostles in what came to be known as the first Council of Jerusalem.
