Word to the Wise
Saturday, April 2, 2016 - Octave of Easter - Sat
[Acts 4:13-21 and Mark 16:9-15]SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2016 SATURDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER [Acts 4:13-21 and Mark 16:9-15] "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." [Acts] These words, spoken and written more than 2,000 years ago, could be the response of any Christian to a governing body that attempts to rule against what the Lord has taught us! There are many examples, but the recent mandate of the federal Department of Human Services requiring Catholic health care institutions to act contrary to the teachings of the church in regard to contraception is an example. It is now a case before the Supreme Court. Other examples might include care for undocumented immigrants or refusal to engage in military service (probably one of the oldest examples). On a less dramatic level, one might note the words, "It is impossible for us NOT to speak about what we have seen and heard." Do we feel that way? When it comes to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, do we find it altogether POSSIBLE NOT to speak? Is there any urgency to our faith, or is it simply something personal and individual? The energy and enthusiasm of the apostles after the experience of Pentecost is amazing, but all of us baptized Christians have received that same Spirit. How can we "speak about what we have seen and heard?" Can we dare to oppose a secular power acting under color of constitutional authority? Is our faith worth our life? AMEN
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