Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 32; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12
The dispute with the Hellenists, described in Acts, is highly significant for its resolution. There are several ways of resolving community arguments. A common way is schism: you go your way, we’ll go ours. Miraculously the early Christians managed to maintain fellowship by allowing each group to manage its own affairs.
The Hellenists were Christian Greek-speaking Jews. As Stephen’s speech later shows, the Hellenists bitterly opposed the Jewish Temple authorities, who drove them out of Jerusalem, starting the spread of Christianity. The Apostles were not expelled, and continued their work, with many Jews including priests being converted.
Peter’s letter continues encouraging persecuted Christians by reminding them that we are “a body of priests, … a people set apart to sing the praises of God”. Each preface concludes with the words: “every land, every people exults in” God’s praise. At Mass we – as priests – offer all we have done during the week, our presence together in community, and our material gifts, as a sacrifice to confirm our allegiance to Christ, just as God’s sacrifice of his Son showed his love for us.
In John’s Gospel, after washing the disciples’ feet and foretelling his death, Jesus emphasises his intimate relationship with the Father, saying “to have seen me is to have seen the Father”.
Psalm May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 32; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12
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