Paul arrived in Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. Then Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and told them how he had seen the Lord on the road and what He had said to him and how he had preached boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus.
He was with them in Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists; but they were trying to kill him. When the brothers learned of this, they took him to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus…
ACTS 9:26-31
Paul arrived in Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. Then Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and told them how he had seen the Lord on the road and what He had said to him and how he had preached boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus.
He was with them in Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists; but they were trying to kill him. When the brothers learned of this, they took him to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
At that time the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace and were being built up. They were living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
This text reflects a time much later than the texts from previous Sundays.
Paul has already been introduced; he was a radical Pharisee, well known as a persecutor of the followers of Jesus. On the road to Damascus, he was miraculously converted. Now, after a long retreat, he comes to Jerusalem to see the Apostles. In Jerusalem, they do not trust him, and Barnabas has to vouch for him.
Then, “the Hellenists” try to kill him. These Hellenists are Jews of Greek culture: many of them, precisely by contrast, are more orthodox than anyone and firmly oppose all innovations, among them, evidently, the new “sect” of the followers of Jesus. And the brothers take him to Caesarea and then to his homeland, Tarsus, where he will stay for a time before beginning his apostolic work.
We see that the first name for Christians is “the brothers.” The name “Christians” has not yet appeared, which will be inaugurated in Antioch after the preaching of the same Paul and other “apostles,” that is, envoys.
1 JOHN 3:18-24
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
Now this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
It emphasizes a basic theme of John, important in his communities. These communities tend to be charismatic, to be led by the Spirit. John insists that if this does not translate into works, it is a lie, and the touchstone is the fulfillment of the commandment of love. That is the Spirit of Jesus, and in that we know that we abide in Him.
These communities are strongly tempted by all kinds of deviations: as every community more charismatic than hierarchical, they have a serious danger of dispersion, that each one considers good what he personally feels. John puts a valid and solid touchstone for all: the works, the fulfillment of loving as He loved, to verify the spirit of Jesus.
José Enrique Galarreta, S.J.