I can remember when it was possible to come in at the end of a movie. We would then take our seats, watch the final fifteen or twenty minutes and then remain in place while the movie began again. When the scene came on that marked our entry into the theater, we would simple get up, declare, "This is where we came in," and we would leave!
A strange way to go to the movies.
I was reminded of this as I looked at the Scripture readings of this coming Sunday in the Roman Lectionary. In particular the very first passage, from Acts of the Apostles (Acts 15: 1-2; 22-29) reads like we have come into something at the tail end! (The Revised Common Lectionary uses a different passage as a first reading.)
Anyhow, for those using the Roman Lectionary, when that first reading begins, you just get the feeling that you have missed something. You are coming in after whatever. If you are familiar with Acts or with our history, you will know the background to this passage. Something, indeed, has happened, something very major, something that speaks volumes to us today as Church!
Backing up to the point before we came into the story today - Paul and Barnabas had been on a missionary journey. Everywhere they went, the same story developed. They would go to the synagogue to preach and Paul, of course, would talk about Jesus and how He is thee fulfillment of the Promise.
Paul and Barnabas met with rejection, sometimes violent. Not welcomed in the synagogue, they did find welcome among the Gentiles. Here they found acceptance of the Good News of Jesus. The Gentiles were eager for the waters of Baptism. They wanted the Presence of the Spirit confirming them in their faith. And Paul and Barnabas complied. The love of Jesus for them gave them a sense of self-worth.
However, word of Gentile eagerness and how they were being received into the Church reached back to Jerusalem and the churches in the surrounding areas. Here the Church was rooted in the ancient Jewish history, traditions, rituals and regulations. Here the question arose: are these Gentiles, lacking in all of this, to be considered "full" Christians? Should they not have all of this background and should they not be following the ancient rituals and laws?
There was a growing movement to treat the Gentiles as somehow second class followers of Jesus.
So Paul and Barnabas journeyed to Jerusalem. A council was held. Viewpoints were exchanged. Experiences were shared. Scriptures were studied and prayers were offered.
The decision emerged: The Holy Spirit is showing us that the Gentiles should not be treated as second class disciples! They are as fully loved by Jesus as are we!
What was happening back then was actually the Church seeking her identity.
How do we in our time and with our circumstances reflect to others, to the Gentiles, the love of Jesus Christ for them?
This was at the heart of being Church.
We face that same question today in the twenty-first century.
How do we deal with the Gentiles of our time?
And we have many. Pope Francis has in many ways been trying to point us toward the Gentiles of our time.
As a result questions for today are emerging.
How do we reflect the love of Jesus to those divorced, remarried folks?
How do we reflect the love of Jesus to that growing number of couples who do not even consider a walk down some aisle?
How reflect the love of Jesus to those parents who would rather spend their Sunday morning cheering their kid's soccer team than spend it giving thanks to the Lord?
And what about our Catholic CEO's? You know - Christmas and Easter Only - does Jesus love them?
And add to the list the LGBTQ's - living so long in the shadows but now beginning to emerge in increasing numbers into the spotlight.
And the list grows and grows.
We look around at our world today and the question is there - how should we be Church in the twenty-first century?
The essence of Church is reflecting the love that Jesus has.
Now, maybe you might simply say, "Why should I care?"
But truth is - Jesus cares.
And if Jesus cares, then we, His disciples, should also care!
We should want to be the best Church possible for our time.
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