30 April 2021 - Friday of the fourth week of Easter - Acts 13:26-33

       In the reading from Acts today, we hear the continuation of a discourse by Paul to the crowds, the beginning of which we heard yesterday.  Paul addresses salvation history, of how Jesus was handed over by the leaders of the people into the hands of the Romans, ending in his death.  Paul addresses Jews and Gentiles alike who were in the crowds.  Paul makes it clear that Christ’s death fulfilled the message of the prophets in the Old Testament, of how handing over Jesus to the Roman authorities accomplished all that was foretold by the prophets.  However, this was not the end of the story, as God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, of which event the apostles were witnesses. 

       I think of the promises that we priests renew each year at the Chrism Mass during Holy Week, as which we promised obedience to the Bishop.  The priests are asked:  “Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him, denying yourselves and confirming those promises about sacred duties towards Christ’s Church which, prompted by love of him, you willingly and joyfully pledged on the day of your priestly ordination?"

      Those are very strong words, words that I promise to uphold as a priest, and for me in particular, in my administrative role as Vicar General in our Diocese.  Father Leo Hausmann, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Rapid City in South Dakota, stated this about these promises we priests make at the Chrism Mass: “It reminds me of who I am as a priest, that the priesthood into which I have been ordained comes to me directly from Christ the priest, through the succession of bishops.  It is Christ’s priesthood that I am called to live with perfect obedience and fidelity to Christ and to his church.”  The words the jump out at me are “perfect obedience and fidelity.”  Those words contain a very high ideal.  

       I love hearing the stories from the Early Church that we hear from the Acts of the Apostles during the Easter season.  These stories take us back to our roots and our beginnings as disciples of Christ.