7th Week of Pentecost

Acts 15:1-12
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question. They were sent on their journey by the church, and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported what God had done with them. But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.” The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter. After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, “My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us. He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts. Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.” The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.

Luke 10:25-28
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

What is necessary? It is not necessary for one to be a monk or a nun. It is not necessary for one to work at a church parish. It is not necessary for someone to speak a specific language. Loving God and neighbor is necessary. In loving God we choose nothing above Him, and we gladly accept the gifts HE offers us. These include mercy, grace, the scriptures, the gift to worship Him, the holy mysteries, etc. Loving neighbor means giving and self-sacrificing to choose the good of the other. If we focus on what is necessary and not what is superfluous, we will live, and what a life it will be.

O Lord our God,
eternal Light and perpetual help,
we glorify you and give thanks for all that you have done for the human race.
We implore you to grant us to continue this evening
and the coming night,
as well as every evening, night and day,
time and hour of our lives, with care and justice.
May we cast off whatever diminishes or harms our bodies
and souls.
May we be firm and never deviate from the true faith.
Grant us to perfect all those rules which are just.
Forgive, O God, all the sins we have committed before you
in this passing world.
Erase our faults and enlighten our minds by your mercy.
Do not count the evil we have done,
but rather prepare us for your heavenly kingdom,
for you are the Compassionate One and the Lover of all people; we shall glorify you, your Father, and your Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.