Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter

As they traveled from city to city,

they handed on to the people for observance the decisions

reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem.

Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith

and increased in number.

When Saint Paul heard Jesus' call as he traveled to Damascus, the Lord demanded of him, “Why do you persecute me?”

But at that moment Paul believed Jesus was dead; he didn’t suppose he was persecuting a dead man; he was pursuing Jesus’ disciples.

Eventually, as Paul reflected on Jesus’ words, he had a clearer vision of the Church. It was not simply a new religion. Rather, it was a new being in our world. Jesus’ body remained in his disciples, especially as they were initiated through Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Christians are not merely indoctrinated into doctrine; we are incorporated into the corpus, the body of Christ.

And so, in today’s first reading, we hear that he “handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem.” Although the people of these cities might never travel to Jerusalem they wanted to be a part of the same congregation that gathered there. They would share in the liturgies, the teachings, and the dietary practices of their fellow Christians.

Because of their willingness to set aside their own customs and notions about how the faith should be practiced, and their willingness to follow their unseen leaders in distant Jerusalem, the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number.

This principle of one Church united by our faith, liturgy and customs throughout the world still guides us today. There is certainly latitude for local customs as anyone who has visited Catholic churches in other parts of the world will attest; but we keep the same feast days, hear the same readings, and share the same Blessed Sacrament – the one body of Christ – wherever we are, whatever language we speak. Our bishops were appointed by the one pope, and they are the ordinary presiders of every Eucharist. (The priest presides at the Mass only because the bishop could not make it!)

This union costs much and is often challenged. Chinese Catholics in particular suffer for their loyalty to Rome. It flies in the face of the ancient Chinese identity which has united that vast country. Also, until John Kennedy was elected, American Catholics were suspected of anti-American sentiments. But the Body of Jesus, his Real Presence, wants to be known in every nation both by word and sacrament.