Monday of the Second Week of Eater
(Acts 4:23-31; John 3:1-8)
The daily masses of the Easter season feature a review of
the Acts of the Apostles. Last week it
told of Peter’s preaching after Pentecost and how he cured a cripple in the
name of Jesus. As a result, he was
arrested and brought to the Sanhedrin. The
court told him not speak of Jesus anymore. Today’s first reading
relates Peter’s report of the trial to the community of disciples in Jerusalem.
The community responds with a prayer of support for
Peter. It recalls how foreign nations
defied King David as the Jewish leaders are now challenging Jesus’ apostles. And it asks the Lord to fortify the apostles with
“boldness” to continue preaching. God
evidently assents to the request as the earth shakes, which is taken as a sign
of the Holy Spirit.
The proclaiming of Jesus to unbelievers has been carried on
for two thousand years. It seems to some
today as an old message that is losing traction. We have family and friends who have stopped
going to church. However, not only are
there masses of people being baptized in Africa, but many serious thinkers are
rediscovering the wisdom and relevancy of Christ. Two weeks ago, for example,
Vice President J.D. Vance published a book about his conversion to
Catholicism. Christianity will not pass
away because Jesus Christ is the eternal God.
