Our readings for Mass today are about the expected fruit that comes from belonging to Christ. The readings speak of two kinds of fruit. The fruit of having full confidence in the truth that comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church as it functions to proclaim and defend what are matters of faith and morals to the faithful. And the fruit of remaining always attached to the source of, not only truth, but all life and nourishment: the vine which is Christ, the vine which is his Body, the vine which is his Church.
In the first reading we see that when a matter arose as to the route that was to be taken by Gentiles to become Christians - did they first have to be circumcised - did they first have to become Jewish in order to become Christian? or could they become Christians without the intermediary step. Since salvation was to come from the Jews, this was a valid question.
In order to seek the truth of the matter – Paul and Barnabas went to Rome to confer with the apostles and presbyters there – but especially Peter the head of the Apostles – made so by Jesus himself. It was actually the first Council of the Church. It is called the Council of Jerusalem. And it set the precedent for how matters of the faith and morals were to be discussed, debated, discerned and finally promulgated – by the action of the Holy Spirit working through the entire group – and officially proclaimed through the mouth of Peter and his successors.
The Second Vatican Council in our own lifetime was the latest example of such a council.
To keep faith alive, to keep morality current it was the responsibility of each branch on the vine of Christ to actively use the gift of the Spirit that each had received to discuss, debate, discern what immediate course of action should be taken on any given day, at any given hour. We, as Baptized and Confirmed and Ordained Christians have our duties to perform in building up the Body of Christ – each according to his or her own state in life and vocation. We need to discover them and do them fully, joyfully!
Regardless of what form these duties may take, if we remain - by prayer, by participation in the sacraments, by acts of charity towards our neighbor – in God's love, Jesus and his Father will reside and remain in us – and we will bear much fruit!
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 remain my disciples!
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