Word to the Wise
Friday, May 2, 2025 - 2nd Week of Easter - Fri
[Acts 5:34-42 and John 6:1-15]"So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God." [Acts]
MAY 2 ST. ATHANASIUS - bishop and doctor of the church
These words are quoted as being said by one of St. Paul's own teachers, Gamaliel, to the ruling body of Judaism, the Sanhedrin. This may have given the earliest preaching some breathing room to get started, but it would not be long lasting. I was once asked by an adult education class at a local parish to explain why and how Christianity managed to spread so well around the Mediterranean area. One of the reasons was that persecution caused the first Christians to spread out to other areas. Secondly, this was facilitated by the Roman equivalent of the interstate system! Third, and very importantly, St. Paul's journeys with companions led to the establishment of communities of believers in Greece and Asia MInor. The Jewish "diaspora" may have aided because Jewish faith was tolerated by the Roman authorities and would have offered initial hospitality to the first preachers in foreign ports.
Nevertheless, it was a dangerous task to preach the gospel, as the Acts of the Apostles and St. Paul's letters remind us. Christianity did not become "legal" in the Roman Empire until the emperor Constantine recognized it in the Edict of Milan in 313 A.D. Continued growth led to Christianity becoming the "official religion" of the Roman Empire in 380 A.D. under the emperor Theodosius!! Gamaliel's warning eventually won out!
This is not all ancient history. The church faces persecution daily in some places. Five Catholic bishops have been deported from Nicaragua for challenging the government's activities. In some countries under Moslem rule, Christians must be extremely quiet. In some areas of India, riots against Christian people and institutions are a common threat. But, Christian faith has endured. The Catholic community, alone, numbers around 1.4 billion members world-wide. No doubt, the advent of the internet helps (and sometimes hinders) the spread of the faith.
Today's gospel scripture, recounting the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, shows that the Lord can do a lot with a little if we just turn that little over to him and follow his instructions. That is how Christianity has spread and endured! AMEN