Wednesday May 13, 209 of the Fifth Week of Easter

Readings: ACTS 15: 1-6 Psalm 122: 1-5 J0hn 15: 1-8
Psalm Response: "Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord"

The opposite side. of the perserverence coin. expresses an early Christian dilemna.
They were all converts from paganism! Were they to undergo circumcisn and abide by the Laws of Dueteronomy and Leviticus? From Paul's and Barnabus' pragmatism, we can see they were opposed. They therefore, turned to the Mother Church in Jerusalem, for clarification and direction. They knew what they wanted for the New Communities bur bowed to the authority of the Church, the founding Apostles for the ultimate decisions.
We are like Paul and Barnabus. We think we know what the Church teaches and sometimes we get it right. However, when there is a conflict betweenour concept of the Natural law and that of the Church, if we wish to be true Apostolic Christians, we consult the Church through our pastors before we become "experts".

Christ as the Vine, makes a practical statement. We are unable to bear fruit, as branches, apart from the Vine. Even if the branch has been grafted to the vine, it depends on the vine for its life and vitaity.
Like Paul and Barnabus,we are to depend on the teaching office of the Church for the truth. Branches broken from the source eventual;y will wither and die!