Always With Us

May 25: Sixth Sunday of Easter

Today's readings are kind of circular, because the promise Jesus makes in the Gospel is fulfilled in the first reading from Acts. The Gospel readings always come last in the mass, however, so we just have to pay attention to how the beginning and end tie together.

Reading I

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

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.’”

We read part of this reading on Wednesday and the rest on Friday. But we're skipping over the part we read on Thursday, which is strange, because that's where the actual debate takes place.

Even in this Reader's Digest Condensed Books version, we can see the historical significance of the Council of Jerusalem. Not every theological question has an obvious and clear answer that can be found directly in scripture itself. Sometimes the Church has to gather together and, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, discern the correct course of action.

Here, the apostles (precursors to our bishops, cardinals, and pope) have decided that the ceremonial laws that kept the Jewish people holy and separate don't apply to gentile Christians, precisely because we aren't meant to be separated any longer.

Moral precepts still apply, of course.¹

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R O God, let all the nations praise you!

The earliest Christians still considered themselves to be Jews. But one of the most important changes was from a local, and largely tribal, religion to a universal faith that welcomed everyone.

Reading II

Rev 21:10-14, 22-23

The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.

John's vision is highly metaphorical, and much of it is open to reasonable disagreements about interpretation. Here, it's generally understood that John is describing a new Jerusalem built on top of the old one. It's not destroying the center of worship in Israel, but rather using it as a foundation to build something even grander.

The interesting thing is, the New Jerusalem doesn't have a temple. Why? Because the temple is where God dwells. Now, God lives everywhere in the city, in the hearts of every inhabitant, permeating it completely.

Alleluia

Jn 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

"Love" isn't a feeling, it's an action.

Gospel

Jn 14:23-29

Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.”

This is part of the Farewell Discourse. As Jesus is about to be executed, he wants his disciples to know it's all part of the plan. He's not abandoning them, but even when he's no longer with them physically, they will have the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

All that's required of us is to obey Jesus' commands, which, it turns out, is pretty difficult. We will fail, but we shouldn't be troubled. God will build up what we offer Him, and make something more glorious than ever before.

1. The blood and meat stuff related to idolatry, of a kind which we don't really see in the modern world anymore. Usually.