Circumcision was a means for the Jewish sons to enter into the covenant with God, It started by Abraham’s disobedience, or rather faithlessness, when he took Hagar to bed to bear him a son, even though God had already promised him a son. It was due to his impatience and faithlessness that led to this rite of passage.
But now, as our Lord and Savior Jesus, who sacrificed Himself for us so that we may be free from all sin and to give new life to all who believe. That practice should not be a hindrance to people coming to the Lord. And that is why there was this predicament, which the first council of Jerusalem had to discern, and in the end, come to the decision to take away the requirement for circumcision.
Today we turn towards our baptism for sonship and daughterhood, into the eternal relationship with God our Heavenly Father, through our vine, our Lord Jesus Christ, we are all connected. For through His body, blood soul and divinity in Holy communion, we are given life to be fruitful for Him for His eternal glory. Amen.
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First reading
Acts 15:1-6
They were to go up to Jerusalem and discuss the problem with the apostles and elders
Some men came down from Judaea and taught the brothers, ‘Unless you have yourselves circumcised in the tradition of Moses you cannot be saved.’ This led to disagreement, and after Paul and Barnabas had had a long argument with these men it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas and others of the church should go up to Jerusalem and discuss the problem with the apostles and elders.
All the members of the church saw them off, and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria they told how the pagans had been converted, and this news was received with the greatest satisfaction by the brothers. When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church and by the apostles and elders, and gave an account of all that God had done with them.
But certain members of the Pharisees’ party who had become believers objected, insisting that the pagans should be circumcised and instructed to keep the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders met to look into the matter.
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Gospel
John 15:1-8
I am the vine, you are the branches
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I am the true vine,
and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more.
You are pruned already,
by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine,
neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in plenty;
for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers;
these branches are collected and thrown on the fire, and they are burnt.
If you remain in me
and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it.
It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.’
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