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.
After they had fallen silent, James responded, “My brothers, listen to me.
Twice in those 59 words we hear of silence and listening. This passage from the Acts of the Apostles concerns the first “council” of the Church; the most recent of its kind was the Second Vatican Council. Historians call this the First Council of Jerusalem.
The community was stressed and divided at the time by an
unexpected challenge. Gentiles were flooding into the Church, overwhelming the Jewish
charter members. Unsure how to handle
the situation the leading lights of the Church – Peter, James, Barnabas, Paul
and others – met in Jerusalem to talk it out. They were sure of only two things;
they had to obey the Spirit of God and they had to agree with one another. The
former, it seemed, might be easier, but they could be sure of it only if the latter
were in place. Disunity, division, strife and sectarianism are never God’s plan.
They got it right because they used two very effective
tools, silence and listening. As the participants rediscovered the sincerity, courage and integrity of each disciple they developed ways to initiate gentiles into the Jewish tradition and incorporate them into the Church. Everyone went home happy with how the Lord had resolved their problem.
In our time of polarized politics and sectarian religion, people are quick to demonize anyone who disagrees and anyone who doesn't agree enough. In the 1990's, when Cardinal Bernadine coupled the Church's opposition to abortion with opposition to the death penalty, he was condemned by many anti-abortion groups. He didn't disagree with them, he didn't agree enough. Some people receive death threats for lesser offences.
Silence and listening: these are the tools of effective churches. Guided by the Holy Spirit, they cast mountains into the sea.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.