Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
Today’s readings tell us that God is our priority, and the Gospel must be heard. It also tells us to take heart and trust God.
We begin in Acts with the court officers questioning the apostles. They say, “We gave you strict orders, did we not, to stop teaching in that name.” And their reply, “We must obey God rather than men.” The apostles know the power of the officers’ judgment, and instead of staying neutral, they outright say that our command to preach is from God and so beyond your orders. As the officers clearly don’t believe or want to believe in Jesus, they want the apostles dead.
This is a great example for us. The Apostles were not on trial just for being Christian, but for preaching. God is such a priority for them that they can’t forgo evangelistic efforts. They learned from the Lord and can’t help proclaiming the message to others in love, empowered by the Holy Spirit. If we truly believe what Jesus said, how could we avoid incorporating evangelization into our everyday lives? No matter where we are or what we are doing, nothing should be above God. It is good to work, but there is a way, even in your work, to proclaim Christ. Evangelism is not just the responsibility of priests and apologists, but to all of us.
There is no way to lose at proper evangelism. We believe in Jesus, and with good reason. If our colleagues’ questions exceed our knowledge, recognize that this is not a one-time debate. Approach them in kindness and genuine concern. Make it a walk, together, into the light of Christ. Connect and invest in one or two people, inviting them to explore our rich tradition and resources together. Make it an opportunity for your the deepening of your own faith, and for their salvation. It may take some time, but trust in God and the Church to provide adequate answers.
Reflection by Joseph, seminarian
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections