May 2, 2004.

Memorial of St. Athanas, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the Presbyters,

My brothers, you are well aware that from early days,

God made his choice among you that through

my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit just as He did

us. He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.

Why then are you now putting God to the test

by placing on the shoulders of the disciples, a yoke that neither are our ancestors nor we have been

able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus

in the same way as they. The whole assembly fell silent and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs

and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.

After they had fallen silent, James responded, My brothers, Listen to Me.

Simeon has described how God first concerned himself with acquiring from among the Gentiles

a people for his name.

The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written.

After this I shall return and rebuild the fallen hut of David.

From its ruins I shall rebuild it and raise it up again,

so that the rest of humanity may seek out the

Lord, even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked. Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,

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