Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Thursday, 1 May 2014 - Catholic Meditations

Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Thursday, 1 May 2014 - Catholic Meditations

Meditations: Acts 5:27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32 We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them.

Saint Joseph the Worker

We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)

Imagine being a defendant in court, having been arrested for some act of civil disobedience. You know you are guilty, and you don’t deny it. The judge, being lenient, tells you, “If you promise never to do this again, I will let you go with a warning.” But all you can say is, “Sorry, I can’t do that.”

That would take a lot of conviction, wouldn’t it? You would need to be very sure of what you were doing to openly defy a judge like that. This is exactly what Peter and the apostles did in today’s first reading. How did they know that openly defying the Sanhedrin was the right thing to do? And how did they find the courage to do it?

Peter gives us the answer: “We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:32). The apostles knew what they had seen: Jesus of Nazareth, risen from the dead. What’s more, they experienced the Holy Spirit’s power convincing them that Jesus was the Son of God and Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. So despite the pressure exerted on them by the Sanhedrin, they couldn’t deny or keep quiet about all they had seen and experienced.

What about you? What have you “seen” and experienced? After all, you have the same Holy Spirit who filled the apostles. Has that Spirit brought Christ to life in your heart? Have you felt Jesus’ love or mercy? Have you had the experience of joy and confidence that comes as the Spirit moves in you?

Don’t dismiss these questions as unrealistic or “super-spiritual”! Millions of people have experienced these blessings over the past two thousand years. Why shouldn’t you? And if you’ve experienced the Spirit like this in the past, why not ask for more today? Jesus gave us the Spirit so that we could continue to grow and deepen our spiritual lives, so why would he give us only a small portion of his grace?

Ask the Spirit to lead you and speak to you today. He has so much more that he wants to give you!

“Holy Spirit, lead me today. Help me recognize your voice; I want to hear you!” Amen.

Psalms 34:2 My soul shall boast in Yahweh.

    The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.

9 Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints,

    for there is no lack with those who fear him.

17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears,

    and delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart,

    and saves those who have a crushed spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

    but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.

20 He protects all of his bones.

    Not one of them is broken.

John 3:31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. 33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys [a] the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Footnotes:

a. John 3:36 The same word can be translated “disobeys” or “disbelieves” in this context.

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