Faith Sharing – January 22

Acts 15:22-26 (…)

Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.
We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26men who have risked their lives for the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things Jesus Christ took suffering and death upon himself to bring us to eternal life. By patient acceptance of our sickness and old age, we share more deeply in the mystery of his Cross.

“Strengthened in the Lord, we are able to contribute in a new way to the glory of the Triune God and salvation of peoples. The community of the Church sustains us with her faith, strengthening us to witness, even in sickness and death, our hope of life and salvation”  (SSpS Const. 417,418).

Silent Reflection

1. What feelings are in your heart as you begin this day? Do you feel any resistance or confirmation at this point?

2. Where do you believe we are guided by the Holy Spirit?

3. The community sustains us… What are the signs that we are sustained by one another these days?

4. What grace do you wish to pray for today?