Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Having been fully vaccinated along with my parents in our respective states, I finally took a long-anticipated flight to Virginia to visit them last month. Much like other families with many miles between them, It had been over a year since we had been together in person due to the risks of the pandemic. I think that was the longest I have ever been apart from my parents in the more than half-century of my life. Of course we had been talking and texting and video-chatting during that time, for which we were very grateful, but it is not the same as physically being with someone. I came to appreciate that all the more when I arrived at their home and hugged them both.
The importance of physical presence and spending time together is what stood out to me in today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (15:22-31). This may be secondary to the primary theme of this passage: namely that the Apostles and presbyters had discerned that “it is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities…”; most importantly not requiring the Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians to be circumcised and follow all the Jewish laws, which was a big deal at that time. However, what really got my attention was how they delivered this important message to the Gentile converts: representatives were chosen and sent to deliver the message directly to them in person.
They did not simply send the letter via a messenger (or Facebook messenger!); rather, community leaders’ Judas and Silas were chosen to go along with Paul and Barnabas to “also convey this same message by word of mouth.” Not only that, but the verses immediately following today’s reading indicate that they “spent some time there,” and Judas and Silas encouraged and strengthened them “with many words.” So, basically, they hung out with them and spent time together supporting and lifting them up as a community!
This seems to exemplify what Jesus calls us to and reminds us of in today’s gospel passage (John 15:12-17), “Love one another as I love you.” Do not place unnecessary burdens on each other. Be fully present, supportive and encouraging. Love one another. “This I command you.”
~Eileen Miller