Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters, and they reported what God had done with them. But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law." The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.

The particulars of our faith haven't always been set in stone. Many generations of Christians contemplated, discussed, and debated every detail. No one man or woman could have interpreted, comprehended, or proclaimed the completeness of our faith. Instead, the collective wisdom of the Church of believers, guided by the Holy Spirit, let the Wisdom of God think, speak, and work through them to form our faith from our decision to accept the Gentiles to our belief in Jesus as both God and man. None of these were easy decisions, but we believe they were inspired by God and as such they have become part of our traditions and doctrines. We would do well to remember that our faith has 2,000 years worth of thought behind it and we shouldn't be some presumptuous to believe we know better than all the great minds who came before us. Sometimes our faith requires us to believe first and then seek to understand.

Do we put our faith in the teachings and traditions of the Church above our own beliefs? How can we humble ourselves so we can seek understanding of our Church's doctrines? Are we willing to trust that the Holy Spirit is at work in our Church and that in the end everything shall lead to a greater good and a deeper understanding of our faith?

O Lord, we trust in you and your Church on earth.

Amen.