Remain in my Love

Acts 15:7-21, Jn 15:9-11. Today’s first reading presents us with the outcome of the first council of the Church, the Jerusalem council. Thus, Paul and James put forward the guidelines from the Council of Jerusalem. The Gentiles converts were asked to respect deeply held sensitivities of their Jewish-Christian brethren. They must not use blood as food, nor marry with close relatives, nor eat any meat that had been sacrificed to pagan gods. Both sides were to make concessions to accommodate the others and promote peace and joy.

A real sense of joy and the presence of the Holy Spirit was evident not only from the experience itself, but also in sharing of the experience of Jesus. In today’s Gospel, Jesus says He wants His own joy to be in us. It may seem strange to speak of ‘joy’ in that rather ominous setting, with hostility and violent death facing Him. The ‘joy’ of Jesus comes from knowing that He is loved by God the Father, no matter what. It also comes from sharing that love with His disciples and with us. Joy is the great by-product of authentic love, the Lord’s love for us and then our loving each other in His name.

May the Lord grant us true joy and help us to fully appreciate the gifts of God in our life! Amen!! Have a great day!!!