Holy Priest-Martyr Basil, Bishop of Amasia (c. 322).
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Acts 10:44-11:10. John 8:21-30.
Read Acts 10:44-11:10
Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
The Acts of the Apostles presents some of the early issues the Church had to contend with. In today’s reading, we can see how there was confusion about how to handle Gentile converts to Christianity. Were they required to get circumcised, eat only “clean” foods, and follow all the Jewish laws? In chapter 15 of Acts, we will read about the Council of Jerusalem which was convened to tackle such questions.
Today we read that the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard Peter’s words and not only the Jews. The Gift of the Holy Spirit is offered to all people, even Gentiles. Peter shared the vision he had in which it was made clear that God allows the flesh of all animals to be eaten. No longer was food to be considered “clean” or “unclean” as it was under the Law since God has cleansed it (Acts 11:9).
Let us remind ourselves of what Christ taught us regarding fasting: that “not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man” (Mt. 15:11). Any true defilement comes from within: the corruption of our heart. We are the living temple of the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us, and so it is important that we take care to guard and keep our heart pure. Let us pray for a clean heart as we do in Psalm 50(51):10-11: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”