God never ceases to work in mysterious ways (HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK OF EASTER MAY 2023
Homily for Friday of the 5th Week of Easter. Acts 15:22-31. Psalm 57:8-9,10-12. John 15:12-17. In the first reading, we have one of the very first canons of the Church: "For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell" (Acts 15:28-29). The Church was wise in sending persons as well as the letter. Letter alone would at times not convey the message. Persons reading the letter and explaining its contents would bring the message home to the listeners! Likewise, the law of the Church needs to be explained. God never ceases to work in mysterious ways. The pagan community in Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas ministered and to which Judas were sent to confirm with their words, what the Apostles wrote in the letter was the first communi...