Homily for Friday, Week 5 of Easter

Homily for Friday
Week 5 of Easter

May 8, 2026
Acts 15: 22-31
Salesian HS, New Rochelle

St. Paul, Christ, & St. James the Just
with Council of Jerusalem in lower right
By Jules & Jenny from Lincoln, UK - Norwich Cathedral, Stained glass window, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81283991

The Church faced a crisis about 20 years after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.  The Gospel was preached 1st to the Jews, Jesus’ own people.  But before long, it was accepted and believed also by Gentiles, e.g., in Antioch, one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire, and in Syria and in St. Paul’s home province, Cilicia.  The crisis was whether the Gentiles had to convert to Judaism and accept the Law of Moses in order to become Christians.  Is the Gospel an add-on to Judaism?

So the apostles and elders met in Jerusalem to debate that, which you heard in yesterday’s 1st reading.  They decided, no, the Gentiles don’t have to become Jews.  They have only to follow some basic moral principles, which they outlined, as we heard today.

The 1st principle was no idolatry, no connection to pagan gods.  Nothing must come between us and God.  For us, that means, e.g., that on Sunday nothing must come between us and worshiping God in church:  not sports, not work, not sleeping in.

The 2d principle was abstaining from blood.  Blood represents life.  Only God has the power of life and death.  So we have to respect him as the Lord of life:  no murder, no assault, no abortion, no assisted suicide, nothing that disrespects the life and dignity of any person.

The 3d principle concerned marriage, i.e., our sexual behavior.  God designed sex for transmitting life, for family life, and that must guide our behavior as followers of Christ.

That’s what the apostles decided, so that the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus, might come to everyone, and everyone could come to eternal life thru Jesus.