18 May 2017 - Thursday of the 5th week of Easter – Act 15:7-21

       I love hearing our readings from the Acts of the Apostles during the Easter season, about the growth evolution of the Early Church.  Today, we hear part of the discourses from the Council of Jerusalem, in which the main topic discussed was whether the Gentiles could become followers of Christ directly, or whether they would have to become Jews first before converting to the Way of Jesus. After Peter’s passionate discourse, it is James who makes a bold and honest statement: that God wishes all to come to him, so no unnecessary burden must be imposed on the Gentiles who want to convert, that the Gentiles should be able to directly enter into the Way of Jesus. Our faith calls us to make sacrifices.  Our faith asks us to accept the reality of our lives, to not live in some sort of fantasy world or to deny our reality.  However, our faith also must be accessible and welcoming.  But our faith knows that we are not perfect, that we live out our faith in the midst of our reality.  We are to strive toward perfection in living out our faith, but we are never going to reach that perfection.  Like the Gentiles who wanted a way in which they could convert to the Way of Jesus, we also are called to a life of holiness just like they were. Whatever state of life or reality or vocation we are called to - whether we are married, single, ordained, or consecrated to the religious life—the call to holiness is not an abstract “pie in the sky” ideal.  Our call to holiness is a reality that we Catholics are called

to pursue and strive toward.  When we stumble and fall, when we miss the mark, our call is to get up and to continue on our lifelong pilgrimage as disciples of Christ.  Each day, each one of us is called to a life of holiness, an attainable form of holiness in the midst of our reality.