The Scandal of Grace: When God Breaks His Own Rules | Daily Readings | May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025 - Daily Catholic Lectionary Readings for Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

God was coloring outside the lines of His own revelation. When Gentiles began receiving the Holy Spirit without first becoming culturally Jewish, the early church faced a theological earthquake. Was God contradicting Himself, or did their understanding of divine purposes need radical revision? The Jerusalem Council's decision to embrace grace without cultural prerequisites revolutionized Christianity, transforming it from a Jewish sect into a global movement where diverse nations could "sing to the LORD a new song" without abandoning their cultural identities.

Our reflection explores:
1. How religious people inevitably create entry requirements beyond grace
2. Why God's action among the Gentiles threatened theological comfort zones
3. What happens when we face evidence that God works outside our frameworks
4. How Christ's love creates unity without demanding uniformity

Readings:
Acts 15:7-21; Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 10; John 15:9-11

Timing:
00:00 Introduction
00:15 Reading I
02:12 Psalm Response
04:46 Gospel
05:08 Reflection

Perfect for anyone questioning religious boundary markers, struggling with God's work in unexpected places, or seeking to understand grace that transcends cultural and theological divisions.

#ScandalousGrace #NoDistinction #JerusalemCouncil #ThursdayReflection #FifthWeekEaster