This is the sixth and final week of our Easter message series, which we have been calling “Groundbreaking.” A groundbreaking event is always significant because it describes something that's never been done or seen or made, or perhaps even ever thought of before. Easter celebrates the most groundbreaking event in history. The resurrection proved that Jesus was who he said he was, namely God, and he could do what he said he could do, which was anything he wanted to do, even rise from the dead. Jesus said that because he could rise from the dead, we would too, his friends and followers would follow the pattern that he established. That's why Easter is groundbreaking for everybody. Jesus resurrection was also groundbreaking because it was the event that launched that movement that is called the church.
Today we want to wrap up and we're going to look at the first major controversy in the history of the church. It took place at the very first church council that was called the Council of Jerusalem. And it's described in the 15th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. The first half of Acts of the Apostles focuses mostly on how the church was growing in the city of Jerusalem. The second half of Acts of the Apostles describes how it grew in the rest of the world, especially through the missionary efforts of a man named Paul.
So Christianity started out as a Jewish movement. And these Jewish Christians came to see Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah predicted by all the prophets, which, of course, he was. But as Paul began spreading the gospel to the Gentiles, he focused on the common ground he had with them which had very little to do with Jesus' Jewish identity. So over time, two very different opinions and approaches developed about what it meant to be Christian. How this problem was resolved determined the way forward for the whole life of the church.
Some of the early Jewish Christians were rigorous. They said that it was not enough for the Gentiles to accept Jesus personally and be baptized. In order to be saved, in order to be a part of the church, they had to learn and observe the Mosaic law as in all of the law including the law that men had to be circumcised. Circumcision was a major part of the Jewish covenant with God marking their identity as God's people. I am sure that most of us can see why this might be a major obstacle for a Gentile man to becoming a Christian.
It's easy for "church-world" to become like a ladder. It's easy, almost inevitable, for church people to get focused on church stuff, all the rules and laws and do's and don'ts. But if you think about it, it's mostly all stuff that's irrelevant and inaccessible to un-churched people.
Lots of un-churched people in our community and culture want to have a relationship with God. Unfortunately, when they come to church, there are no bottom rungs on that ladder. Un-churched people are intimidated to come to church because they don't know where to park, which door to use and where to sit. They don't know what to do with their kids. They don't know if they'll be welcome.
Meanwhile, we're inundating them with rules and laws and do's and don'ts that don't even make any sense to them. The basic argument of the Council of Jerusalem was about whether or not to have lower rungs on the ladder and some members of the council argued no, absolutely not. You've got to start with the highest rung.
Today’s first reading skips the middle part of Chapter 15, which includes a wonderful speech by St. Peter, the first Apostle to preach to a group of Gentiles. He pointed out that God knows the heart, and the same Holy Spirit came down on the Gentiles he preached to as it did to all of them on Pentecost. As Peter put it, “we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they” (Acts 15:11). Following St. Peter’s theological argument, St. James, a cousin of Jesus and the head of the Jerusalem Church, made the practical decision, “We ought not make it difficult for the Gentiles to turn to God. We ought not make it difficult for people to come to church.” It was a groundbreaking idea. Let's make it easy as possible for people who are interested in turning to God and learning more about him to get started through accessible first steps. Not Catholic light, which is what our critics accuse us of, not dumbing it down, not compromising the faith, just common sense on-boarding processes.
As a parish, serving the communities of Delran and Riverside, it all begins with the weekend experience. We try to communicate that goal through our music, through our message and most powerfully through our ministers. Yes, I said MINISTERS. Ministers are volunteers who take responsibility for some small task here at church on the weekends and they're more important than the music or how beautiful the churches are. We want to create an irresistible environment for the un-churched but that won't happen, it can't happen without teams of ministers.
Ministry is not just about getting tasks done. They are all about that ladder. They are all about putting rungs back on the ladder to make it easy and accessible for people to get to know God. So, today I'm asking those of you who do not yet serve in ministry to consider getting on board. We need volunteers for nearly everything: altar servers, readers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, catechists, ushers/greeters, musicians, singers, the Church Environment Committee, Parish Garden Club, for organizing one of our parish social events such as the Bountiful Breakfast, Lunch with Santa, Designer Bag Bingo, and the event we just had – Spring Fling. I am sure all of our parish organizations – who do a lot for the parish – would happily welcome new members: Altar Rosary, Holy Name Society, St. Vincent de Paul, Prayer Shawl, Pastoral Care of the Sick, bereavement.
As a parish staff, we will do our best to make your ministry easy and give you what you need to succeed in ministry. Serving in ministry can make a difference in your life too. I plan to invite some of our current ministers to write a short witness of how their work has impacted their lives and their relationship with Christ, and share them in the bulletin.
Today the only commitment that I'm asking you to make is to commit to learn more. Pray asking God to help you see what He is calling you to do in the parish. If you are not sure what a particular ministry does, talk to someone who is already involved in it and ask them about it. In September we plan to have a “Ministry Fair” where you can sign up for one of our parish ministries.
In today's Gospel, we hear some of the most beautiful promises Christ ever made to his friends and followers. Most especially is the promise to come and dwell among us, to be with us and to bless us, to bless us when we're working for him. That's a groundbreaking idea.