Theme: God calls his own and chooses those who are to live as his dear friends, regardless of our human categories and distinctions.

COMMENTARY

Lesson 1: Acts 10:44-48 (C); Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 (RC)
The pericope for the Revised Common Lectionary features the outcome of Peter's encounter with Cornelius, the Roman Centurion. As Peter was explaining the gospel, the Holy Spirit came down on all the believers, including, for the first time, Gentiles. Since God had favored the Gentiles with the Holy Spirit, Peter's party could not refuse them water baptism in the name of Jesus. This marks the beginning of the universalizing of the church, transforming it from a sectarian to a truly catholic religion. The Roman Catholic lectionary also includes the greeting of Peter and Cornelius (vv. 2…