Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1)

Today's reading from Acts tells of the disciples' disagreement regarding whether or not circumcision was necessary to gain salvation. For the Jews, circumcision was an outward sign of their covenant with God. It sets them apart from people of other religions. It gave them a sense of identity, community, and union with the Father. However, when Jesus included the Gentiles in his plan for salvation, his covenant with them did not mention circumcision. And, of course, the Gentile males would probably rather avoid this painful and very risky way of proving their loyalty to God. Even the Apostles and local church leaders did not know how to answer this debate.

As they struggled with these issues, what is inspiring to see is the unity they maintained in their love for the Lord, and their determination to work together so the Church could continue to move forward with its work. Let us now consider some challenges to Church unity in our own day and age, and how we are still working with a sense of unity. Do you see yourself as a member of the one Body of Christ?  Do you understand that you are called to share in the unity that comes from your union with Him? I pray that your love for the Lord in the Eucharist brings about a proud love for others. 

Eternal Father, source of love, by your Holy Spirit you move human hearts so that enemies may speak to each other again, adversaries join hands, hatred is overcome by love, revenge gives way to forgiveness, and discord is changed to mutual respect.

Grant us, through the action of the Spirit, the grace to contribute, together with all people of good will, to the fulfillment of your Son's will: "That they may all be one!" With faith, we ask you for the divine gift of unity. Give us enough love and courage to seek to overcome disunity, whether it is friction in our families, tensions in our neighborhood, disagreements at work, in our parish, or among different religious groups. Help us to enter into honest and respectful dialogue. Keep us from being indifferent. Soften our hearts. Open our ears. Help us to listen with close attention to the other person, sharing in the pain caused by their wounds. Help us to build bridges rather than walls. Make us instruments of your peace.

We humbly pray to you: allow us, your children, to live in solidarity with all people and so to honor you, who are the Father of us all. We ask these things through Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen. (Anonymous meditation based on Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation II.)

Be one and be holy in Christ,

Father Vincent-Vuong Nguyen

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

Houston, TX