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St. Luke’s Institute
St. Joseph the Worker
May 1, 2013
AUTHORIZED OR NOT? +++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Our 1st reading makes interesting
distinction between those who had been chosen and sent on mission to preach to
the Gentiles (Paul & Barnabas sent by Ch in Jerusalem)
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And those who apparently set off on their own
authority to preach and instruct the people (Jewish converts who had come down
from Judea)
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A major dispute arises about whether or not “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles
and direct them to observe the Mosaic Law”
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To settle the dispute, the Church in Antioch
decides to send Paul, Barnabas, and several others as a delegation to the
Church in Jerusalem where they are to place the matter before the AA 4 resolution
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We’ll see in tomorrow’s first reading how it all
works out
AUTHORIZED +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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In today’s Gospel, J makes it clear that we do
not bear witness to the true God on our own authority
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Even Jesus does not act on his own “author+ity”
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Time and again, he tells his disciples that he
has been sent by the Father and that his role or purpose is to do the will of
the Father, not his own
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Today’s Gospel presents Jesus’ claim to be “the true vine” and immediately adds, “and my Father is the vine grower”
THE AUTHOR +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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The lesson for us is to realize that we also do
not act on our own authority
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As baptized members of the Church, we are
branches grafted onto Jesus, the true vine
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And following the image in the Gospel, we know
that in order for the branches to bear fruit, they need to remain grafted onto
the vine
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Jesus tells us that any branch that does not
bear fruit is cut off and discarded from the vine
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And every branch that does bear fruit the grower
prunes so that it bears even more fruit
CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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What, if anything – an attitude, a way of doing
things, what I preach – in my life needs to be pruned so that I can continue to
bear fruit more abundantly?
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We are invited today to ask God, “the vine grower”
to help us with that
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