My sisters and brothers in Christ,
This week's readings lead us through a journey of discernment, unity, and divine intimacy.
We begin in the Acts of the Apostles, where the early Church faces a major crisis. Some believers were teaching that unless Gentile converts followed the Mosaic law—specifically circumcision—they could not be saved. This caused confusion and division.
So what did the Church do?
It listened.
It gathered.
It prayed.
It discerned.
And through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church made a bold declaration: salvation is through Christ alone, not through human customs or inherited rules.
“It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us…”
What a powerful line. This is not just the apostles speaking—it is the Spirit speaking through them.
The Church is not merely a human institution; it is a living, Spirit-led body.
And the first lesson today is this:
When we listen carefully, when we gather in unity, when we welcome the Spirit—
God shows us the way.
This is a lesson especially important in our own time. We are often tempted to impose our own conditions on who belongs in the Church. We draw lines. We build fences. We ask: “Are they worthy?”
But God reminds us: Salvation is not earned by conformity to culture. It is received as gift—through love and faith in Jesus Christ.
This theme of listening and unity has taken on new meaning in recent weeks with the election of Pope Leo XIV.
Chosen through prayer, discernment, and the same Holy Spirit who guided the early Church, Pope Leo reminds us that the Church is still led not only by human deliberation, but by divine inspiration.
Known for his humility and pastoral heart, Pope Leo now shepherds the Church at a time when unity, peace, and compassion are more vital than ever.
The second reading, from the Book of Revelation, gives us a beautiful vision:
The new Jerusalem, the holy city, descending from heaven. It is radiant with the glory of God. And it is not a closed city.
It has twelve gates—three on every side—open in every direction.
Its foundation is apostolic, yes—but its light comes not from human righteousness, but from the Lamb.
“Christ is the lamp.”
This Church is not built on exclusion.
It is built on radiant welcome, divine light, and apostolic faith.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks tenderly to His disciples:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”
This is the second lesson of the day: God doesn’t ask us to climb a mountain to find Him. He comes to us. He makes His home in us.
When we love, forgive, serve, and remain faithful, He dwells within us. And when we struggle?
He sends the Holy Spirit—the Advocate—to teach, guide, and strengthen us.
Finally, Jesus offers us a gift:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.”
The peace of Christ is not the absence of hardship.
It is the presence of God in the midst of it.
It is a peace rooted not in perfection or success, but in His faithful indwelling.
What Does This Mean for Us?
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We are called to be a Church that listens—to the Spirit, to each other, and to those who feel excluded.
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We must resist the urge to reduce faith to rules, and instead center our hearts on salvation by grace.
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Every act of love builds a dwelling for God within us.
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True peace—peace that casts out fear—can only come from Christ, the Light of the world.
Let us be that radiant city.
Let us rejoice that God has not chosen to burden us,
but to dwell with us—and in us—forever.
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