24 April 2020 - Friday of the 2nd week of Easter - Acts 4:34-42

       In our first reading, the apostles rejoice in that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor at the hands of man for the sake of the Gospel and the name of Jesus. The disciples left the Temple area after they had been flogged and ordered by the Sanhedrin to stop preaching the Gospel. However, Peter and the other apostles continued their preaching with even more enthusiasm.  What a great example of faith their witness is for us today. 

The apostles rejoice at the dishonor they suffered because they did so for the honor they were giving Jesus.  So often, so many of us think that we shouldn’t suffer at all for our faith, that we shouldn’t have to make any sacrifices for the faith.  But, through all we are going through right now, not even being able to go to public mass at our parishes, I think we are appreciating the sacrifices many have to go through in order to practice our faith.  Even though we are not able to have public masses, we at St Jude, through technology, have been able to stream masses over the internet in order to continue to connect with the people.  Previously, I have heard some Catholics in our Diocese complain when we were not able to have a mass when it was convenient for them to go according to their schedule, even though there were other masses over the weekend they could have attended.  Now, perhaps we will better understand the sacrifices and accommodations we are called to make for our faith.  

The other thing that struck me about the first reading was the testimony that the Pharisee gave the Sanhedrin, of how the movement and popularity of other false messiahs died with them.  He tells the Sanhedrin to just let the followers disperse to preach his Good News.  If Jesus is a false messiah, his movement will just naturally lose energy because he is not around anymore.  But is Jesus really is the Messiah and the Son of God, so states the Pharisee, then there is nothing they can do to stop it.  

If Jesus really is the Messiah in our eyes, we are going to want to spread his message to others.  We are going to have energy and zeal to give testimony, no matter what opposition we have.  Let us go therefore and proclaim his Good News!