During the Easter season, the first readings we have in the daily masses come from the Acts of the Apostles. I have enjoyed hearing them again during the Easter season each year, hearing about the development of the early Church, about the missionary efforts of the apostles, about the way our belief in Jesus and his ministry developed in the years right after his death and resurrection. Especially with the persecutions in the Early Church and with the controversy about reaching out to the Gentiles, the evangelizers in the Early Church faced many obstacles and challenges. Poor Paul in particular had such a difficult time with his missionary efforts, not only with those to whom he was bringing God’s word, but also the Jewish authorities who constantly challenged him and tried to destroy him. Paul is sneaky and intelligent, however, as we hear him trap the Sadducees and Pharisees, getting them in an argument that he knows will keep them occupied, since these two groups do not agree in the belief in the resurrection.
Today, we see various Christian groups still arguing about differences in what they believe. So many in our society do not have any respect or decency with those who differ from their point of view. When we see restaurants refusing to serve dinner to someone just because they are members of a certain political party or a certain presidential administration, we might wonder what has happened to the dignity and respect in which we treat each other. In my missionary work with the Catholic Church, we always started with the story and the reality of those we served, of the way God was already present in the lives, in whatever way that would be. From others’ reality and other’s stories, we can learn so much.
I give thanks to Paul for his courage and strength. May we follow in those same footsteps as disciples of Christ.
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