Breaking the Word

3^rd week in Easter Time, Monday – 15^th April 2024 – Acts 6,8-15; Jn 6,22-29

Drawing Line of Differences

In the first reading, Stephen is presented as a model of a believer who accomplishes the works of God. He will be the first person to give his life for Christ. He is the first martyr, the first true witness to the Gospel. Until now, we only heard the apostles, especially Peter and John, working miracles. Now, after the laying on of hands, deacon Stephen is given the same gifts and the same power. Later, we will see deacon Philip doing the same. Stephen believes in Jesus as Saviour, whom God the Father has sent to save world from sin and death. He preaches without fear because he knows that his message is from the Holy Spirit. Stephen’s words and action aroused the displeasure to other Greek-speaking Jews. He takes up the difficult theme of freedom from the old Law of Moses and the end of the old Temple worship. The people, the elders, and the scribes accuse him of “saying things against this holy place and the law.” The parallels between Stephen’s experience and that of the Lord Jesus being accused are strikingly similar. Like Jesus, and because of Jesus, Stephen is “full of grace and power” and he “did great wonders and signs among the people.” He was bold in proclaiming that Jesus was going to destroy the Temple and change the Traditions of Moses. While Stephen’s enemies glared at him with hostility, his own face gleamed “like the face of an angel.” Stephen perceived and expressed in his preaching, the fuller implications of Jesus’ teachings by drawing the difference between Judaism and Christianity.

2^nd week in Easter, Friday – 12^th April 2024 – Acts 5,34-42; John 6, 1-15

Signs of Credibility

The first reading presents the wisdom of Gamaliel that favours the apostles. If something is not of God, its importance will end someday. If it is truly of God, then there is nothing which can stop it. He warned his fellow council members not to be too hasty in their judgements. He gave two examples of leaders – Theudas and Judas the Galilean. In both cases the leaders died or were killed and then their movements fell apart and their followers scattered. Gamaliel suggested the above principle, on the basis of these experiences, that this ‘Jesus’ movement should be left alone. Gamaliel gives the positive corollary. Most men in the Sanhedrin would never admit that Jesus could be on God’s side. Instead, they can posture as if taking the high ground, letting God handle things (Acts 5,13).  Proverb says, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Prov 19,21). Gamaliel accurately applies this to the Sanhedrin’s situation. Obviously, the Church has striven to carry on the ministry of Jesus until now with pointers of faith in Jesus and his saving work. Two thousand years later, the growth and holiness, the fruitfulness, the catholic unity and stability continue to be signs and motives of credibility. Like Gamaliel, we should have confidence in his principle that, in the long run, the truth will always prevail.