Acts of the Apostles

My Dear Parishioners,

I thank anyone who had anything to do with bringing Chris Brunell to our parish. The concert was a great success. His music and his story is inspiring. Chris is certainly welcomed back in the future.

I also thank anyone who supported our monthly diaper drive last week. This too was a great success. This drive helps parents to make the only right choice, the choice for life. Thank you.

We continue our Easter Season journey through Acts of the Apostles in our First Reading.  “Acts” was composed by St. Luke the Evangelist and was meant to be a companion reading to the Gospel that he recorded.

Acts of the Apostles is the very first Church History ever written. It is the history of the earliest beginnings of our Catholic Church. It covers a period of approximately 30 years, from Jesus’s Glorious Ascension into Heaven to St. Paul’s imprisonment in Rome.

Acts of the Apostles begins centered in the Ministry of St. Peter and ends centered on the Ministry of St. Paul. As we follow these two great Apostles, we see the Church growing and spreading from Jerusalem to Greece and then to Rome.

We also see the Church wrestling with the important questions. We see the Church wrestling with the question of just how much of the Law of Moses still applied and must be followed. From that question, followed the question of how to bring Gentiles into the Church.

This great question concerning Gentiles was whether or not they should first become Jewish before becoming Christian.

This weekend’s First Reading from Acts of the Apostles gives us a partial accounting what is called the Council of Jerusalem. The Council of Jerusalem was the first Church Council. It was a gathering of the Blessed Apostles that was convened to discuss and settle the issue of how to bring Gentiles into the Church.

This is the decision of the Apostles: But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.” The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter. After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, “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 (Acts of the Apostles 15: 5-12).

While the Blessed Apostles concluded that one did not have to become Jewish to become Christian, they would teach and preach that Baptism is how one is to be brought into the Church: Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” Peter [said] to them [the Jews], “Repent and be baptized,* every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 36-38). And While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people [the Gentiles], who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?” He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 10: 44-48).

To this day, we teach and preach that it is Baptism that makes us Christians. Thus, we rejoice that Jesus has given us this great gift of Baptism. This great gift, that by the pouring of water and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, all can be brought into relationship with Jesus. Thus, we join this the Psalmist in exclaiming O God, let all of the nations praise you!!!!

Of course, Monday is Memorial Day. Memorial Day is so much more than the start of the summer season. Memorial Day is our annual remembrance of those who died to protect our freedom. St. Michael the Archangel, defend the souls of warriors who breathed their last in distant lands. Lead them to God’s eternal arms. Thank You, Lord, for their valor that purchased our safety. Guard their resting places with angel armies. Comfort spouses who never heard a final “I love you,” children who miss a parent’s embrace. May these heroes now rest in Your peace. Amen.

This Thursday is the Great Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord and a Holy Day of Obligation. We will have our regular Holy Day Mass Schedule. Thursday we will be celebrating the fact that we already have a share in His Glory which then allows us to share in the fullness of His Glory in the world to come.

St. Joseph, Patron of the Church and our Patron, pray for us!

Fr. Michael J Pawelko, pastor