May 7, 2021 Lectionary: 289

Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter      Acts 15:22-31,   Jn 15:12-17 Review from yesterday. Book of Acts. Council of Jerusalem Historical/Theological “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and us” Jews/Gentiles.    Unclean.     Embrace. Its Major. * Love one another. What a challenge, even today! Especially today. * Other parables.  Good Samaritan. Priest, Levite and the Samaritan.  Martin Luther King, Jr.  Priest and Levite: “What will happen to me if I help?” Samaritan:  “What will happen to me if I DON”T help?”.  Contradiction.    Pope Gregory the Great, in the 6th Century said “being taught by contradictions, we more thoroughly learn to understand God’s heart”. Wrestling with Contradiction. The Rich Young Man. He didn’t have a problem with Loving His neighbor, but he wrestled with the contradiction of what needs to happen to be saved. The disciples said “Who can be saved?”.  Jesus uses an inspiring word in his answer. The greek is dunatos. His answer, is with men it is difficult, but with God all things are POSSIBLE.  I remember this word as “Do not toss” out the possibilities of the contradiction (of the person or the situation) facing me.  Loving our neighbor, loving each other is faced with challenges. Contradictions. That’s exactly how the disciples and apostles were to find God’s heart in the events that led up and after the council of Jerusalem and its still true today for each of us.