May 24, 2019 Friday of the 5th Week of Easter-C

Acts of the Apostles 15:22-31

Psalm 57

John 15:12-17

“It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden…”  Acts 15:28

Lord, your disciples didn’t have a detailed plan or blueprint on how to integrate the Gentiles into their faith communities.  They were faced with the challenge of including former pagan and disrespected people who had come to believe and be baptized.   Many of the Jewish traditions didn’t fit within the culture of the Gentile world.  They did the best they could as they turned to the Holy Spirit in prayer for guidance.  Their hearts were touched with the love you had for them.  They were open to new ways, new relationships, and new paths to the Father.  Thanks be to God for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit that formed these people into zealous disciples and faithful witnesses of your love.  Thankfully the time they spent with you allowed them to seek, knock and ask for help in difficult decisions.  I pray for the same help when I am confronted with hard choices or hard decisions.  May I seek your will in big and small concerns.  Show me how best to discern the mind of the Father as I work to bear fruit that will remain.  Amen.