May 2, 2013

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Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church 

Read more about the champion against the heretics

Lectionary: 288

Reading 1ACTS 15:7-21

Yesterday, we read that the Apostles had gathered in the first Ecumenical Church Council.  The Council of Jerusalem.  Now we get to see what they said.

After much debate had taken place,
Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the presbyters,
“My brothers, you are well aware that from early days
God made his choice among you that through my mouth
the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe.
And God, who knows the heart,
bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit
just as he did us.
He made no distinction between us and them,
for by faith he purified their hearts.
Why, then, are you now putting God to the test
by placing on the shoulders of the disciples
a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved
through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.”

St. Peter tells the gathered Church that we have a new dispensation by Jesus Christ.  And that it is no longer necessary to keep the whole law, but we are now saved by the grace of Jesus Christ.  What remains unsaid is that this grace is received in the Sacraments.

The whole assembly fell silent,
and they listened
while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders
God had worked among the Gentiles through them.

Then, Sts. Paul and Barnabus told them about the many miracles God had worked amongst the Gentiles through them..

After they had fallen silent, James responded,
“My brothers, listen to me.
Symeon has described how God first concerned himself
with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.
The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:

After this I shall return
and rebuild the fallen hut of David;
from its ruins I shall rebuild it
and raise it up again,
so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord,
even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked.
Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,
known from of old.

Then St. James agreed with St. Peter, whom he refers to as Symeon.  He notices that the Old Testament prophecies that God will rebuild the faith from the ashes of the Hebrew religion.

It is my judgment, therefore,
that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,
but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols,
unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.
For Moses, for generations now,
has had those who proclaim him in every town,
as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath.”

And he simply wants to warn the Gentiles against those things they do in their religious festivals.  Orgies, sacrificing animals to false gods, and unlawful weddings performed outside of Church.

Responsorial PsalmPS 96:1-2A, 2B-3, 10

R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Always proclaim the salvation of our Lord.  A salvation which is closer to us than ever before.  Because we, Catholics, are saved by our reception of the Sacramsnts.  If we continue and persevere in a state of grace.

GospelJN 15:9-11

Jesus said to his disciples:

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,

just as I have kept my Father’s commandments

and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that

my joy might be in you and

your joy might be complete.”

The Commandments are so important.  It is those who keep the Commandments who are saved in the reception of the Sacraments and in the Final Judgment.

Folks!  It does no good to be washed in the waters of Baptism if we have deceit in our hearts.  We can't fool God.  This is why Scripture says:

Mark 16:16

King James Version (KJV)

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 Don't come to Church thinking, I'll be good while I'm here but I'll be back to my old sinful habits when I go back out there.  It doesn't work.  God is not to be toyed with:

Hebrews 10:31

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

No joke.