Daily Retreat 04/22/06

2006 Apr 22 Sat: Easter Saturday

Acts 4: 13-21/ Ps 117(118): 1 and 14-15ab. 16-18. 19-21/ Mk 16: 9-15

From today’s readings: "Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.... Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.... Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature!"

The Unsettling Effect of the Good News

The Gospel either brings comfort (which it is meant to do!) or consternation (when it is resisted and rejected). The Sanhedrin members could not explain the compelling zeal of Peter and John and they could not deny the miraculous cure worked through them. What, then, could they do? Either they could welcome the good news, or stubbornly reject it and try to ignore or smother it.

So they ordered Peter and John "not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus." Such an approach was not only futile, it was infantile - how could anyone resent the healing of a lame man and the proclamation of the good news of Christ’s resurrection?

Now in countries which boast of their guarantee of freedom of speech, the very idea of such a crude gag order seems remote, and yet, more subtle sinister forces are resurrecting the Sanhedrin’s strategy! While it’s not illegal to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, restrictions on public display and influence of Christian faith continue to increase, at the same time that legal restraints against obscenities and atrocities continue to decrease! And it certainly is seen as uncouth to stand firm in Gospel convictions (as the Apostles did) in the face of powerful and popular opposition, and those who do so continue to be dismissed, like Peter and John were, as "uneducated, ordinary men."

But the Good News cannot be ignored or smothered by overt or covert gag operations - you and I, and all other Christians standing in Peter’s and John’s shoes today, need to make the same courageous stand and reply, "Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges - It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard," namely, the power and presence and comfort of our resurrected Lord!