Word of the Week

6th Sunday in Easter

Gathered Together (Council): Synago (Gk.): meaning, “to gather together”, or “assemble; collect together”, or “to lead with one’s self”

By using the phrase “gathered together”, I wish to highlight the meaning of council in the Deposit of Faith. An Ecumenical Council, which is typically called or confirmed by the Pope, is “a gathering of all the bishops of the world, in the exercise of their collegial authority over the universal Church” (CCC Glossary, 873). In general, councils often convene to clarify doctrine and at once bring renewal within the Church. 

The Greek synago can be found sixty–two times in the New Testament, eleven of which are found in the book of Acts. As this phrase is used in a very general sense in Sacred Scripture to speak of a people coming together, it does have an important context in Acts 15. For this Sixth Sunday in Easter, I would like to first consider acts 15 as it records the Church’s first Council at Jerusalem, and subsequently, put this within the context of the Gospel reading for this Sunday.

In the opening verses of Acts 15, Luke records the genesis of the debate, which ultimately leads to the convening of the Council: the Pharisees and those following them believe that in order for the gentiles to “be saved” (Acts 15:1) they must be circumcised. For this reason, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, among others, to gather together with the elders to debate the topic (Acts 15:1-5). Once the gathering convened, it was Peter who rose up and addressed the crowd staking claim that we are no longer bound by the old law of circumcision, but the new law of Baptism; whereby we are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ (Acts 15:7-11; cf. Col.1:9-15). After Peter was done speaking, the assembly “kept silent” to hear of the wonders that were being done through Paul and Barnabas (Acts15:12-13). Shortly thereafter, it was James, the first bishop of Jerusalem, who stood up calling upon an Old Testament prophecy of Amos. In a most prolific testament to what Christ came to fulfill in the new covenant, he sees the prophecy of Amos being fulfilled in the new Christian Church. Point in fact, the “dwelling of David, which has fallen into ruin” (Acts 15:16) is being rebuilt from a kingdom overseeing a national covenant, into a Kingdom overseeing the world covenant. Essentially, what James sees is the restoration of the Kingdom of David in the Catholic (derived from a Gk. term meaning universal) Church, which includes even the Gentile people. Below is a diagram of the stage that was set in Jerusalem in 49 A.D.

 -Sadducees                                                                  49 A.D.                                                    Paul
San Hedrin-Pharisees-----Old Law------------------Acts 15--------------New Law------12 Apostles
-Scribes                         circumcision              Council of Jerusalem       Baptism              Peter/James

This diagram illustrates how Judaism and primitive Christianity are completed in the Catholic Church. Specifically, how the Old Testament Israel is the Church of God and the New Testament Church is the Old Israel of God.

Essentially, what this Sixth Sunday in the Easter Season puts into focus for us is the promise of the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn.14:15-31), our counselor and advocate for strength and support (cf. wow on counselor). For this reason, God established the first Christian Church as sacramental. We are called to share in this gift of love too fully participate in God’s divine nature (cf. 2 Pet.1:4), and consequently, lean on him as our advocate in our every waking need.

I’m often asked the question: Are Catholics Christians? A question that, as a Catholic, appears to have an obvious answer—yes! Now, on one level, if such an inquiry is putting into question any one’s fundamental “Christian” behavior and their distinct Christian character…well, that is only for God to decide. On another level, and the level to which I believe this question takes on, the question of Christian identity in the practice of he Catholic Church and her Doctrine, a resounding yes! Revisiting the above diagram, if there is anything that the first century teaches us about Christianity is its Catholic character, which essentially defined early Christianity. Simply put, the first Christian communities were formed in the sacramental life of the Church, which was by nature Catholic (once again, a term meaning universal).

“The first Church council, the Council of Jerusalem we hear about in today’s First Reading, decided the shape of the Church as we know it.”
--Scott Hahn

Primary Texts Consulted

•  Catholic Bible. Suggested trans. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
•  Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition, 1997.

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