Friday, May 2, 2025

 

Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

(Acts 5:34-42; John 6:1-15)

Both readings today show how scant resources under proper conditions can grow into gigantic movements.  In the first the wise Gamaliel admonishes Jewish leaders not to impede followers of Christ.  He says that the fledgling community in time is likely to fall under its own weight.  Of course, guided by the Holy Spirit, Christianity grew to become the dominant world religion.  In the gospel Jesus feeds thousands with only five barley loaves and two fish. 

St. Athanasius also was a minority voice in a great debate.  During his lifetime most people accepted the teaching of Arius that Christ was not God, equal to the Father.  Athanasius deflated the heresy by showing how no human can be saved if Christ is not God.  Fortunately, the majority of bishops backed his way of thinking.

Pope Francis also championed smallness and simplicity.  He thought resources were better shared than accumulated or squandered.  He linked a simple lifestyle to the struggle to save the planet from greenhouse gases.  But he was more concerned about human cooperation than the danger of the earth being overheated.