Thursday, May 1, 2025

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 5:27-33; John 331-36)

Muslim terrorists believe that they are doing the will of God when they kill so-called infidels.  Of course, as Pope Francis often said, no one committing acts of violence is doing God’s will.  When the apostles say in today’s first reading that they “must obey God, rather than men,” they need to verify that they are really carrying out God’s command.

It is not hard to do.  Before his Ascension, Jesus, who is God incarnate, told them to preach pardon of sins in his name to all nations. The apostles were only carrying out this command when they were arrested.    

Terrorism is not exclusively Muslim.  There have at times arisen Christian terrorists as perhaps terrorists of most religious movements.  Terrorists try to impose their will, not God’s, on others.  Perhaps some of us are guilty of forcing our will on others with whatever leverage we have.  We are wise then to do as Jesus proclaims here.  We are to seek pardon for this sin in prayer and with penitence.

Thursday, April20, 2023

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 5:27-33; John 3:31-36)

The first reading today reminds us that people in authority can make bad decisions and give compromising orders.  Presidents and parents can tell their subjects to do something wrong.  Evil must be rejected. As Peter says in the reading, “’We must obey God rather than men.’”

The question of obeying a superior’s evil command often becomes acute in war situations. To deal with the problem Catholic theology has developed a list of criteria for pursuing a just war.  Just war principles include limiting force to what is necessary to achieve just objectives and assuring that non-combatants are not victimized.  The principles make a credible theory but also leave behind vexing issues.  Who determines how much force is necessary?  And how can civilians be immunized in an attack on their city?

We might pray that we are never put in a situation where we must disobey a superior.  If we find ourselves in one, we need to ask God for prudence.  We want to stand for what is right without undermining completely valid authority.

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.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

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 when she wouldn’t provide flowers for his “marriage” to another man.  The florist, a woman, did not harbor personal dislike for the client.  Rather she believes that homosexual marriage violates God’s law and that her providing flowers would comprise sinful complexity in evil.  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 is the most important element of our lives.  Do we love him above all because of what he has done for us?  He created us, shared our struggles, and then died to free us from sin’s claws.  More than anyone or anything, he is worth our allegiance.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 5:27-33; John 3:31-36)

Political correctness requires that everyone accepts “homosexual marriage.”  Proponents of the issue claim that it will facilitate social inclusion for a group which has been ostracized or belittled throughout history.  They pass over the reality that “homosexual marriage” distorts the perennial understanding of the term marriage and will likely result in a number of negative consequences.  Among these are the devaluation of the institution of marriage, the reduction of births and resultant diminution of culture, and manifold social pathologies.  In the first reading today the apostles are admonished for refusing to conform to a similar demand of political correctness.

Jewish leadership would not mind the disciples of Jesus praying to their Lord silently.  What bothers them is the open proclamation of Jesus’ name because they executed him.  Intimidating them has not succeeded. Now, according to the text, the Jewish leaders want to kill the disciples.  As we will hear tomorrow, a wise man in their midst will convince the leaders not to act rashly.

Followers of Christ need to develop a sensor for political correctness.  We should be wary of those who would forsake the truth out of a desire for power.  But we should also remember that following Christ we speak the truth in love.  Proponents of causes such as “homosexual marriage” often are well-intentioned and possessive of wisdom.  To benefit all concerned we must engage them in intelligent and respectful dialogue.

Homilette for Thursday, April 23, 2009

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 5:27-33; John 3:31-36)

“We must obey God rather than men” (or women, we should add). This maxim from the first reading today may be delusive since God sometimes speaks through others and since our sense of God speaking to us may be mistaken. Discernment guided by Scripture and Church teaching provides necessary assistance in determining what God expects of us when the dictates of others conflict with our own ideas and actions.

A recent development in government points to an impending conflict between obedience to God and compliance with civil law. The Obama Administration has called for inquiries on whether the protections of medical workers and institutions from prosecution for not performing abortions should be lifted. In other words, the Obama Administration is contemplating pressuring Catholic facilities, doctors, and nurses into doing abortions. Catholic bishops have raised their voices decisively and vigorously in defense of freedom of conscience. Removal of protections, they claim, would mean violation of many consciences, non-Catholic as well as Catholic. It would also facilitate the taking of human life in its most vulnerable period.

Many Americans are pleased with policy changes introduced by the Obama Administration. His friendly overture to the Cuban government, for example, seems productive and right-minded. It is also in line with the approach the Church has taken in recent years. But Catholic Americans especially should be wary not to allow their enthusiasm for positive change allow them to overlook areas where the Administration may tread on sacred values upholding the common good.