FROM JERUSALEM TO NICAEA

Thursday, 5^th Week of Easter, Year C (Memorial of St Athanasius)

Act 15:7-21; John 15:9-11

It was a huge issue in the early Church whether non-Jews should be allowed to become Christians. The first Christians were all Jews and, following Jesus’ mandate to them, they felt the compulsion to preach the gospel to other nations. But what they were not sure of was how to accommodate the new converts into a new religion that was still very much like a sect of Judaism. The normal way to become a Jew was to be born so, but this new light brought by Jesus, how can one become part of it? To resolve this problem, the Church had to call a meeting of all the Apostles and other principle actors in the early Church. It was the first of its kind. It held in Jerusalem under the chairmanship of James who was then Acting Bishop of the Jerusalem Church.

In the First Reading of today, we hear Peter presenting his argument in favour of the position that Gentiles who wanted to become Christians didn’t need to go through any Jewish ritual or be made to observe purely Jewish customs. This position was supported by Paul and Barnabas and in the end James gave his ruling: We should not trouble Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write a letter telling them not to eat food offered to idols and to keep themselves from sexual immorality.

300 years after, the Church was faced with a different kind of problem. This time around it was not a question of new converts but a more theological issue regarding the person of Jesus. There were some who believed and taught that Jesus was not God as God Almighty was God. They held that Jesus was a righteous man specially chosen by God and endured with so much power that made Him above all other creatures but yet subordinate to and lower than God. It was an appealing doctrine which got many sympathisers. It major proponent was a brilliant priest called Arius. On the other hand, there were those who upheld the divinity of Jesus. They said that Jesus is God as much as He is man. He is truly God and truly man. He is of one nature and substance with God and is equal to Him in majesty and glory. Jesus is in essence, God made man for our salvation. St Athanasius whose feast we celebrate today championed this position which was more in line with Scripture. The Council of Nicaea was convoked so that the two parties can present their argument. At the end it was Athanasius’ position that prevailed.

From the council of Jerusalem to the Council of Nicaea, it is the Holy Spirit that is leading the Church. As the society evolves through the ages, the Church grows with it and the Spirit who is the principal animator of the Church continues to guild her along the way to understand God’s will concerning contemporary challenges and issues. We trust the Teaching Office of the Church because we trust that the Holy Spirit that guilds Her will never make a wrong turn or decision.

Good night and God loves you. 

HUMILITY IS SINCERITY

Monday, 5th Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 14:5-18; John 14:21-26

It has been said that humility is the mother of all virtues. This is very much true in the sense that humility attracts and beautifies all other virtues; the lack of it spoils even the noblest of gifts. It is not without reason that Scripture says that God accords His favours to the humble (1Peter 5:5). It is a garment that all Christians (regardless of how highly placed or spiritually gifted) need to wear constantly. Humility is sincerity; the opposite of it is pride and pretension.

I think the first reading of today is quite instructive in this regard. Paul and Barnabas were now preaching the good news of Jesus Christ in Lycaonia. In the hall was a cripple from birth who was listenning to the Apostle with rapt attention. When Paul noticed that the young man had developed enough faith to be healed, he said to him in a loud voice, "Get to your feet". Immediately, the cripple jumped up and began to walk. It was a miracle and those around were so astounded that they thought to themselves "Surely, these guys are gods; they have only visited us in human form". They named Paul Hermes and Barnabas Zeus after the gods they worshipped and were even ready to begin offering sacrifices to them when the apostles had to vehemently oppose it. "We are mere humans like you", they said in vexation and embarrassment, "why would you want to do such?" And they siezed the opportunity to even talk more on the greatness of God.

I wonder how many Christians or even pastors today will be able to act in like manner. How many of us will have the strength to refuse being exalted above our head? Ours is an age and society where there is so much craze for recognition and prestige and popularity. Many have been caught in the web and have begun to assume the place of God consciously or unconsciously. Usurping the glory that belongs to God alone, we have often sought to satisfy our egos with vainglory. It is evidence of lack of humility. Oh, how much we need this vitue today.

So let us pray, throug the intercession of St Catherine whose feast we celebrate today, that God will remove from us any gift that will make us proud and help us to use the gift we have in grateful acknowledgement of the Source.

WORK IS BOTH MISSION AND BLESSING

Wednesday, 5^th Week of Easter, Year C (Memorial of St Joseph the Worker)

Genesis 1:26-2:3; Matthew 13:54-58

Do you know why they say “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”? It is because idleness is a sin and one sin disposes one to commit more sins thereby making the person some kind of factory where sin is reproduced by the devil. But why do we say idleness is a sin? Idleness is a sin because to work is a divine mission, and idleness violates that mission. Where did you get the idea that work in a mission? The Bible makes it clear.

As we read in the first reading of today, God was the first person who engaged in work. He did the work of creation in 6 days and rested on the 7^th day. Then He hands over the whole of all visible creation to man giving him the mandate to maintain and sustain it by the work of His mind and hand. This was one of the first mission man received and it was a privilege to so partner with the Creator in the business of sustaining creation.

Along the line, man fell from grace through the sin of disobedience against God. As a result of this man was driven from paradise and part of the sentence was: “By the sweet of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground from which you were made”. Work then became a punishment due to sin but Jesus was to come to redeem man from sin and from the curse that resulted from it. So when the Son of God took the likeness of men, He willed to work as a carpenter so as to sanctify work and bring it to its original purposefulness. His redemptive work made work once again a mission to the glory of God and a source of blessing and fulfilment to us.

If we are able to appreciate this understanding of work, then we will be more disposed to have the right attitude towards work. Work, we must work because the opposite, which is idleness, is not an option but a sin. How do we work? We must work dedicatedly having in mind that it is for the glory of God that we work. Then we must work in such a way that we serve others through our work. That way we will gain the blessings and fulfilment that comes from a work well done.

Happy workers’ day and God loves you.