Acts 15:22-31 / John 15:12-17
It is never easy to make a decision, especially when one is in the seat of authority, and it is on a critical matter.
Besides the immediate consequences, there are the long-term and future effects of the decision to consider.
Nonetheless, for better or for worse, a decision has to be made in order for the matter to be addressed and for a direction to undertaken.
In the 1st reading, we heard how the apostles and elders came to a decision about the status and the religious practices for the pagan converts.
The key sentence here is this: "It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves ... "
It is obvious that through prayer, discussion and discernment, a decision was made.
And that is also what we must do in the process of making a decision - prayer, discussion and discernment.
God has also made the decision to love us and save us. May we also make the decision to love God and to love others as we share with them the Good News of salvation.