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| “The Virgin of the Grapes” by Pierre Mignaro, 1640’s |
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 15:1-6
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
"Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved."
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters
about this question.
They were sent on their journey by the Church,
and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria
telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,
and brought great joy to all the brethren.
When they arrived in Jerusalem,
they were welcomed by the Church,
as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,
and they reported what God had done with them.
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers
stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them
and direct them to observe the Mosaic law."
The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
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Commentary on Acts 15:1-6
In this passage we see the issue being raised: should the Gentile Christians be required to follow all Hebrew Law (as Jesus and his disciples did)? The practice they are debating is circumcision. The question is, should the male Gentiles be required to be circumcised? The disagreement over this question was serious enough to send Paul and Barnabas back to Jerusalem where we hear the debate continue.
This event helps us understand how teaching in the early Church was kept consistent. Peter and the Apostles were the authority. On important questions of the faith they were the ones who made decisions. Local Presbyters did not.
CCC: Acts 15:5 595
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. (see 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
Psalm 122 is a song of thanksgiving centered upon returning to the Temple in Jerusalem. (Mosaic Law required such a trip three times in an individual’s life.) The song rejoices in the visit to the holy place, the seat of King David. The original singers would have been rejoicing at returning to the one temple. For Christians, the new Jerusalem is the one and only house of God in his heavenly kingdom. There the Lord sits in judgment.
Gospel: John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."
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Commentary on Jn 15:1-8
This selection begins the discourse on the vine and the branches – really a monologue on the union with Jesus. It is part of Jesus’ farewell speech. The familiar theme of the Vineyard and the Vines is used which has imagery in common with Isaiah 5:1-7; Matthew 21:33-46 and as a vine at Psalm 80:9-17; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:2; 17:5-10; 19:10; Hosea 10:1, the identification of the vine as the Son of Man in Psalm 80:15 and Wisdom's description of herself as a vine in Sirach 24:17. This monologue becomes a unifying tie that pulls the entire farewell speech together.
CCC: Jn 15:1-17 1108; Jn 15:1-5 755; Jn 15:1-4 1988; Jn 15:3 517; Jn 15:4-5 787; Jn 15:5 308, 737, 859, 864, 1694, 2074, 2732; Jn 15:7 2615; Jn 15:8 737
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Reflection:
The theme of unification of Christians is strongly portrayed today. First we hear of Paul and Barnabas returning to Jerusalem to resolve an important issue within the infant Church. Rather than making an authoritative statement and thereby risking dividing the community (remember, this debate was started because other Jews from Judea had come to join their brethren), they brought this question before the Apostles, prefiguring the later conciliar structure.
While they did not have full authority to speak for the disciples, Paul and Barnabas, who were sent by Peter and the other disciples, had undoubtedly been instructed by them. Barnabas may have even been an eyewitness to the Lord’s Passion. It is then critical that Paul and Barnabas act as they did, getting a consensus from the common authority. It also gives them a chance to reinforce the message they had seeded along the way. In this case, the vine had grown rapidly and sent off many branches.
In the second instance, the Lord’s monologue in his farewell speech to the disciples is also speaking of the unity the disciples must foster. He tells them in clear words: “Remain in me, as I remain in you.” Here we leap to understanding of Jesus’ presence of the Eucharist. From the vine’s fruit comes wine, and the wine becomes the blood, and the blood remains is us as we remain in him.
The picture painted is one of concentric circles. The outer circle is the unity of the Church, and the inner circle is our individual unity with Christ. Like rays shining out from a central light, the inner circle that is the individual members, supports the outer circle (the Church) against all challenges that might break it apart. Imagery aside, our personal relationship with the Lord is bound up with his universal relationship with the Church. With her we remain in him.
Pax
[1] The picture is “The Virgin of the Grapes” by Pierre Mignaro, 1640’s
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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