THE FIRST COUNCIL OF THE CHURCH

VI SUNDAY OF EASTER - Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

The early Church faced a huge problem that threatened her unity and risked her existence. The question was fundamental: Can the Gentiles be saved and be welcomed as members of the people of God, the Church? What are the essential conditions for their acceptance? Should they be obliged to follow the Law of Moses, or was it enough to believe in Jesus Christ? Paul was adamant that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ without needing to accept and follow the Mosaic law. Many Jews, mainly those coming from the mother Church in Jerusalem, considered the acceptance of the law to be an essential condition for salvation. Thus, to enter the Church, they should be circumcised. 

Faced with a difficult decision, the new communities of Gentiles sent a delegation to Jerusalem, which presented their case to the Apostles, who called for a meeting with the elders of the Church. Peter was the first to address the assembly, reminding them that the Holy Spirit had led him to welcome the first Gentiles, accepting them into the Church. Then, Paul and Barnabas reported on the evangelisation work that they had done among the Gentiles. In the end, James addressed the assembly and proposed a compromise, thus avoiding a complete break between Jews and Gentiles. Having reached a solution, they wrote a letter to the communities and entrusted its presentation to a delegation composed of Judas Barsabbas and Silas. In the letter to the communities, they affirm that the decision was made by the Holy Spirit, who guided them to settle the problem: “It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves”.

Since then, the first council of the Church has remained a model for many others that would take place throughout the centuries. In times of crisis, the elders of the Church assemble to discuss the big issues that endanger the life of the Church. In those assemblies, called councils (and synods), through the Holy Spirit, they come to solutions that strengthen and guide the whole Church to remain faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Jerusalem, only the Apostles and the elders gathered together. It was a meeting of the shepherds, which helped them to discern the ways of the Spirit for the Church. This has been the tradition of the Church kept through the centuries. Indeed, the shepherds have to look after the flock, and will be called to account if they fail to fulfil their duty. In the Church, we walk together, guided and protected by our shepherds who must take us to the springs of living water. The Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, is the role model of all shepherds. He bestows his peace on us and grants us the Holy Spirit, as an advocate and a teacher, who will teach us everything.