In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles Paul gives the homily (“word of exhortation”) during a Sabbath synagogue service at Antioch in Pisidia. The synagogue service was much like our Liturgy of the Word of Mass. There are prayers and hymns and then the central part is the reading from the Sacred Scripture. The Jewish Bible is divided into three parts, the Law (Torah), the Prophets, (Nebi’im), and the Writings (Ketubim) hence the common acronym TaNaK. Acts describes the setting for Paul’s preaching: “After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them [Paul and Barnabus], ‘My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for these people, please speak.’”
Acts gives us the words of Paul’s homily or word of exhortation. Paul reflecting on the Scripture just proclaimed reviews God’s salvific actions from the exodus up to the time of King David whom God declared as “a man after my own heart.” Paul then proclaims the Gospel message: “From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.” Paul concludes his homily with these words:
“But the one whom God raised up did not see corruption. You must know, my brothers, that through him forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, and in regard to everything from which you could not be justified under the law of Moses, in him every believer is justified.” (Acts 13:37-39).
Paul proclaims that we are justified or made right with God through faith. We do not earn our salvation or justification it is a gift or grace from God. We can accept or reject this gift, but God’s will is to save all people. We accept this gift or grace of God by proclaiming that Jesus is Lord and by living a grace-filled life of love, mercy and compassion.
Image: “Apostel Paulus predikt in Antiochië het evangelie, RP-P-OB-53.940” by Rijksmuseum is marked with CC0 1.0.