Daily Retreat 10/08/08
2008 Oct 8 Wed: Ordinary Weekday
Gal 2: 1-2. 7-14/ Ps 116(117): 1bc. 2/ Lk 11: 1-4
From today’s readings: “James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.... Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.... Lord, teach us to pray....”
Controversy and Cooperation in Evangelization
In spite of their overall unity in dedicating themselves to living and spreading the Gospel, the early Christians had to work through honest disagreements and opposing viewpoints. One of the most contentious issues was whether or not Gentile converts to Christianity had to also observe all the Jewish laws and practices. Since Jesus Himself was a law-abiding Jew, it certainly was reasonable to assume that His followers should also obey the Mosaic laws.
It’s important to note here that there never was a debate about whether or not Christians needed to follow the moral laws (e.g., the Ten Commandments) of the Old Testament - that was always taken for granted! But many of the precepts of the Old Testament deal with dietary restrictions and other customary practices apart from guidelines about morality - were Christians bound by all those obligations as well? Those who held and taught this doctrine in the early Church have been called Judaizers.
This position, however, was eventually rejected by the Church in the Council of Jerusalem (cf. Acts 15). Much of Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians deals with this controversy. Paul had clearly taught the Galatians that Gentile converts did not have to conform to all the Jewish customs, such as circumcision. But after Paul left the Galatians, certain Judaizers had quickly arisen to flatly contradict Paul’s position. In response, Paul wrote this epistle to prove that his own position was known and shared by the other apostles, and that the Judaizers’ stance had to be rejected.
There was a lot of tension as the Church worked through this controversy. Paul points out that fraternal correction had been necessary even for Peter (Cephas), who had fallen into dissimilation by withdrawing briefly from association with Gentiles, thus tacitly supporting the Judaizers even though he had concurred earlier with Paul’s position.
All the Church’s controversies of our own day will also eventually be settled, but meanwhile, we too need to work our way faithfully through the times of tension. This requires charity from all, and a commitment to preserving unity by following the lead of apostolic authority.
Gal 2: 1-2. 7-14/ Ps 116(117): 1bc. 2/ Lk 11: 1-4
From today’s readings: “James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.... Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.... Lord, teach us to pray....”
Controversy and Cooperation in Evangelization
In spite of their overall unity in dedicating themselves to living and spreading the Gospel, the early Christians had to work through honest disagreements and opposing viewpoints. One of the most contentious issues was whether or not Gentile converts to Christianity had to also observe all the Jewish laws and practices. Since Jesus Himself was a law-abiding Jew, it certainly was reasonable to assume that His followers should also obey the Mosaic laws.
It’s important to note here that there never was a debate about whether or not Christians needed to follow the moral laws (e.g., the Ten Commandments) of the Old Testament - that was always taken for granted! But many of the precepts of the Old Testament deal with dietary restrictions and other customary practices apart from guidelines about morality - were Christians bound by all those obligations as well? Those who held and taught this doctrine in the early Church have been called Judaizers.
This position, however, was eventually rejected by the Church in the Council of Jerusalem (cf. Acts 15). Much of Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians deals with this controversy. Paul had clearly taught the Galatians that Gentile converts did not have to conform to all the Jewish customs, such as circumcision. But after Paul left the Galatians, certain Judaizers had quickly arisen to flatly contradict Paul’s position. In response, Paul wrote this epistle to prove that his own position was known and shared by the other apostles, and that the Judaizers’ stance had to be rejected.
There was a lot of tension as the Church worked through this controversy. Paul points out that fraternal correction had been necessary even for Peter (Cephas), who had fallen into dissimilation by withdrawing briefly from association with Gentiles, thus tacitly supporting the Judaizers even though he had concurred earlier with Paul’s position.
All the Church’s controversies of our own day will also eventually be settled, but meanwhile, we too need to work our way faithfully through the times of tension. This requires charity from all, and a commitment to preserving unity by following the lead of apostolic authority.
posted by FrPitstick | 10/05/2008
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