joy

Pasig - after much deliberations, St. James spoke "I rule, then, that instead of making things more difficult for pagans who turn to God, we send them a letter telling them merely to abstain from anything polluted by idols, from fornication, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has always had his preachers in every town, and is read aloud in the synagogues every sabbath."

 In the gospel, Jesus stressed to remain in his love, keep his commandments, so that our joy would be complete.

 Why would our joy be complete?  Because it is in total conformity to God's will; it is united with God.

 What constitutes a life filled with joy?

 What are the things that bring us sadness?  Probably some unmet needs.  But if we are filled are we happy then?

 After much deliberations, St. James gave a judgment on the issue of circumcision - not to make it more difficult for pagans to turn to God, to abstain from anything offered to the idols, fornication, meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

 This is a well-discerned judgment based on Jesus' principles.

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