May 7, 2006, Thursday of the fifth week of Easter.

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 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, known from

of old. It is my judgment, therefore, that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles

who turn to God, but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols, unlawful marriage,

...