Acts of the Apostles!

Acts 15:28

For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.

"It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…"  This is an astonishing statement, but a true one.  It conveys the essence of what Acts is about.  Luke tells us at the beginning of Acts that in his gospel, he described what Jesus "began" to do and teach.  The clear implication is that Acts is the continuation of that story.  And it is the story of how Jesus continues to do and teach.  For he is not dead, a salient fact frequently overlooked.  He continues to guide his Church even when his Church is composed of sinful, stupid men and women.  He gives his Holy Spirit and, when the Church needs clarity on a crucial doctrinal point, he promises to make sure that she doesn't get a bum steer.  This is agape or "unconditional love" applied in the area of guidance.  It is given, not because we're so great but because we are such dunces that, without him, we would have lost track of the gospel centuries ago.  That's all infallibility means: Jesus' unconditional love applied in the area of guidance.  Today, thank God for guiding his Church into all truth. Heaven knows we need it and don't deserve it.

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Mark P. Shea is a popular Catholic writer and speaker. The author of numerous books, his most recent work is The Work of Mercy (Servant) and The Heart of Catholic Prayer (Our Sunday Visitor). Mark contributes numerous articles to many magazines, including his popular column “Connecting the Dots” for the National Catholic Register. Mark is known nationally for his one minute “Words of Encouragement” on Catholic radio. He also maintains the Catholic and Enjoying It blog and regularly blogs for National Catholic Register. He lives in Washington state with his wife, Janet, and their four sons.

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