Thursday, April 28, 2022

 Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

 (Acts 5:27-33; John 3:31-36)

 A couple of years ago a florist in Seattle was sued by a patron.  The florist refused to provide flowers for her patron’s “marriage” to another man.  She did not harbor personal dislike for the man.  Rather she believed that homosexual marriage violates God’s law.  Furthermore, she thought providing flowers would make her an accomplice in an evil act.  In a letter to the Seattle Times the florist wrote: “Rob (the patron) was asking me to choose between my affection for him and my commitment to Christ.  As deeply fond as I am of Rob, my relationship with Jesus is everything to me.”  The florist expresses the same sentiment as the apostles in today’s first reading.

 The Jewish authorities have told the apostles that they are not to preach the name of Jesus.  But they cannot not do it.  They have been commissioned by Jesus and charged by the Holy Spirit to witness to him as the world’s salvation.  Obeying the authorities would be defying God’s will.

 We need to ask ourselves whether our relationship with Jesus means as much to us.  Do we love him above all because of who he is and what he has done for us?  He is God who became human.  He created us, shared our struggles, and then died to free us from sin’s tenacious grasp.  More than anyone or anything, he is worthy of our allegiance.

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