I do not call you rants any longer

Acts 15:22-31, Jn 15:12-17. Today's reading narrates how the Christians in Jerusalem accepted what Paul and Peter had done, after a vigorous debate, by welcoming Gentile converts into the Church. The ecumenical proclamation from the Council in Jerusalem is that Gentiles do not have to become Jews in order to become Christians. A convert to Christianity needs only to keep the basic commandments of avoiding idolatrous practices and remaining faithful to God. Being a Christian is much different than being a slave to rituals and rule. It is having the experience that one is truly a friend of God and inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Jerusalem Council agreed that change was necessary and decreed that, it is the decision of the Holy Spirit and theirs, not to lay any burden beyond that which is strictly necessary. This term, 'strictly', indicates that there would be some relaxing of the rules; and it was a Spirit-inspired solution which resolved a crucial issue.

If the conservatives had rejected Paul’s vision and held to their narrow view of the Church, Jesus movement would have remained just a branch of Judaism and not blossomed into what Jesus intended, a faith for the whole world. That is to say that, a close relationship with God is not limited to the Jewish nation, but, through the spreading of the Good News, is to be made available to all people who come to believe in God. Thus, in today's Gospel, Jesus calls His disciples into a new and closer relationship: "I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father." That is to say that a close relationship with God is not limited to the Jewish nation, but, through the spreading of the Good News, is to be made available to all people who come to believe in God. Thus, in today's Gospel, Jesus calls His disciples into a new and closer relationship.  It is no longer a Master-Teacher/slave-apprentice relationship but a friendship relationship based on a freely given response of love. The hallmark of this new friend-relationship is that type of unconditional love, that is willing to give up one’s life for another. 

May the Lord cleanse our hearts by His truth and guide our lives by His holiness, so that we may do what is right and pleasing to Him! Amen!! Good morning and have a pleasant day!!!