“In those days: It seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole Church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas . . . with the following letter: “ . . . Since we have heard that some persons from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us in assembly to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul. . . For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity.” Acts 15:22- 29. Pope Francis said, “Unity does not require uniformity, monotony, but the plurality and variety of voices, polyphony . . . At the same time, each voice in the choir sings while listening to the other voices, and in relation to the harmony of the whole.”

Let us pray, Loving Father, the early Church teaches us how we can solve very many issues when we sit, reflect together, and allow the Spirit of God guide the Church. Pope Francis talked of synodality: listening to each other, participation, communion, walking together. May we respect each other and come together to solve the many issues of our time. Amen. “Let your light shine!!” Be blessed. Larry.