NOT GOING AHEAD OF PROVIDENCE - C: 6th Sun in Easter

First Reading: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 (22 May 2022)

“It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities” (Acts 15:1-2, 22-29).

This statement is the decision promulgated by the first so-called ecumenical council, i.e., the Council of Jerusalem, which was issued by the elders of Jerusalem to the Gentile-believers based in Antioch. The issue at hand is that some Jewish believers of Jesus became adamant in rejecting non-Jews into their fold unless they would be “circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses” (v. 1). This resolve was repeated at the arrival of Paul and Barnabas in Jerusalem: “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses” (v. 5).

Instead of giving in to this growing demand, “the apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: ‘Brothers ... [W]hy do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are” (vv. 6-8, 10-11). To this remark, Paul stood up to proclaim to the assembly all the conversions and miracles that had happened among the Gentile-believers of Jesus (v. 12). The discussion was sealed by James’ closing speech, declaring, “Brothers, listen to me.... It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God....” (v. 19).

This lengthy proceeding actually gave birth to the Council’s first document that was communicated to the whole church and the believers of Jesus (v. 22).

Noticeable in this episode is the realization of the painstaking process of deliberation, exchange of ideas, recollection of Mosaic laws, and discernment of the will of God. What the members of the assembly in Jerusalem did was to allow each one to speak up his mind, believing that they could only solve a problem through the tedious process of dialogue. Thus, instead of handing an immediate verdict, they sought first God’s wisdom by their exchange of ideas. Here, I surmise that they did four things in comprehending the divine will, viz., pause, pray, ponder, and plan. They paused first before making a judgment and by not believing the rumors (v. 6). They prayed by uttering some scriptural passages while being gathered as an assembly (vv. 16-18). They pondered by listening both to the complaints of the Jewish believers of Jesus and to the successive statements of Peter (vv. 7-11) and James (vv. 13-21). They planned by carefully crafting their words in the Council’s letter to the Gentile world (vv. 22-29).

By and large, they were slow in deciding because they were attuning themselves to the Divine Providence.

Pause. Pray. Ponder. Plan. These are the things we should likewise do at the aftermath of the Philippine national elections, especially for those who are still devastated with the loss the candidates they supported. Nonetheless, we know that God is telling us something amid these events. But we cannot discover his will if we are too busy not to pause, pray, ponder, and plan.

- Rex Fortes, CM