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.”
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.

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.

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.”

Acts 15: 7-21

Here are the complete readings for Thursday, May 22, 2025.

(“James and the Jerusalem Council”)

When does a community stand firm in their beliefs about traditions, and when does it open itself up to the future, inviting change and the inevitable dispensing of some traditions that were once considered immutable? In both cases, a great deal of faith and courage are required to withstand what is convenient, and to focus on the core beliefs that guide the community’s mission. In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Council of Jerusalem was nothing short of revolutionary, in which the participants held to their beliefs about the resurrection of Jesus and his calling them to discipleship. By committing themselves to this mission, they were then able to appreciate that Christianity was not just about them and their familiar rituals. Instead, they were able to fulfill Jesus’ challenging approach to conversion by opening their doors to people who were not like them in an act of radical inclusion and grace. Today, communities continue to wrestle with balancing their commitment to the past and openness to the future. It is difficult to understand the mysterious ways of God and the direction we are being led. This is why we today can take another lesson from the Council of Jerusalem, which is the practice of discernment. The apostles and their associates did a great deal of speaking and arguing their points of view, but more importantly they took time to be still and listen. They listened to each other about the roots of their disagreement, and then together agreed to be silent and to listen to the Holy Spirit. This takes a tremendous amount of humility and trust to have this kind of fortitude in decision making, yet it is so vital to keeping our communities and institutions aware of the calling that brought us together in the first place.

As you prayerfully reflect on the past,
assess the present,
and ponder the future with one another,
be considerate of this history
and of this ministry.
Yet, like Ryken,
foster an attitude of openness
to the needs of the Church and your world,
and a willingness to follow Christ
wherever He leads.
You are called
to a life of constant searching.
Let the developments and changes
of your times
be a source both of confidence and challenge to you.

– The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, we thank you for our uncertainty as much as our certainty. When we are unsure of the direction of our journey of life, help us appreciate that feeling as a gift and an opportunity. We are grateful when you put us in our place and remind us of our connection to you and your people. Give us the courage and patience to admit what we do not know and be open to what you know. Amen.