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Acts: 5: 27-33

When the court officers had brought the Apostles in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
“We gave you strict orders did we not,
to stop teaching in that name.
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the Apostles said in reply,
“We must obey God rather than men. 
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

When they heard this,
they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.

The Word of the Lord

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Roughly a thousand years ago, Poland became a Christian nation when the king converted to Catholicism. To this day, his conversion is sometimes referred to as, “the Baptism of Poland.”

However, a century later, the religious renaissance Poland was experiencing came to a crawl, as a violent and corrupt king – Bolesław II – took power.

Shortly thereafter, the local Archbishop, Saint Stanislaus, publicly rebuked and excommunicated the king for his immorality. Like the king, Stanislaus came from great wealth. But after his parents died, he gave his entire fortune to the poor and was ordained a Catholic priest.

Enraged by the public embarrassment, King Bolesław ordered his troops to put Saint Stanislaus to death, but they refused. So, the king decided to kill the saintly pastor himself while Stanislaus was celebrating Mass.

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Throughout the history of the Church, there are countless stories like this – stories of heroic courage which we first see unfolding in our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Much like Stanislaus, the Apostles believed in the truth of the resurrection – but they actually saw and touched the Risen Lord.

Convinced that Christ had conquered death, the Apostles preached throughout Jerusalem and beyond, knowing what their fate would be – death in this world, but eternal life in the next.

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How do we emulate such courage? Or what risks do we take to share our faith?

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On this feast of Saint Stanislaus, may he intercede for us that we, too, might offer ourselves entirely for Christ and his people.

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Image credits: (1) VividComm, WordPress (2) Daily Theology (3) faithsharer.com

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Acts 5:17-26

The high priest rose up and all his companions,
that is, the party of the Sadducees,
and, filled with jealousy,
laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail.
But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison,
led them out, and said,
“Go and take your place in the temple area,
and tell the people everything about this life.”
When they heard this,
they went to the temple early in the morning and taught.
When the high priest and his companions arrived,
they convened the Sanhedrin,
the full senate of the children of Israel,
and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison,
so they came back and reported,
“We found the jail securely locked
and the guards stationed outside the doors,
but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report,
they were at a loss about them,
as to what this would come to.
Then someone came in and reported to them,
“The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area
and are teaching the people.”
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them,
but without force,
because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

The Word of the Lord.

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If you want to understand God, then look at nature.

There’s an invisible, persistent force in nature that is determined to thrive. Even in the harshest circumstances, life can be found.

I’ve seen trees growing on the side of a mountain face; flowers blossoming in tiny cracks on a sidewalk; cacti standing tall in the desert heat.

Nature never gives up. Wherever life is possible, growth springs up.

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The same idea is true with God. Wherever there is a heart open to faith, God shows up. The Spirit will not be stopped until disciples are made of “all nations.”

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In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Sadducees have had the Apostles arrested for a second time. 

They thought this budding religious movement would’ve been squashed after they nailed Jesus to a tree. But reports are circulating that he’s been raised from the dead.

Making matters “worse,” the Apostles have somehow broken out of prison and are back in the Temple area preaching in Christ’s name, converting crowds by the thousands!

In spite of their best efforts, the Sadducees cannot prevent the Spirit from spreading the Good News. Before the first generation of Christians leaves this world, they will spread the Gospel message into Europe, to the far corners of the Middle East, and beyond.

Wherever belief is possible, God shows up.

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The same is true today. The Holy Spirit is determined to work through us, to make disciples in our homes, in our parish, and in the broader community. We don’t have to be perfect – only willing.

Like the Apostles, in what ways do we share our faith with others?

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God’s Spirit is like a force of nature, causing growth wherever it is possible. May he use our words and actions for his glory today.

Come, Holy Spirit!

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Image credits: (1) QuoteFancy (2) Reddit (3) Saint Peter Preaching in Jerusalem, Charles-Francois Pierson

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Acts: 4:32-37

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the Apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the Apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.

Thus Joseph, also named by the Apostles Barnabas
(which is translated “son of encouragement”),
a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,
sold a piece of property that he owned,
then brought the money and put it at the feet of the Apostles.

The Word of the Lord.

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Throughout the Easter Season, we read from the Acts of the Apostles, which describes what life was like within the first Christian communities.

As we hear today, “The community of believers was of one heart and one mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.”

Barnabas, for example, sells all of his property and places the profits at the feet of the Apostles, to be used at their discretion.

Today that’d be like selling your home and your car, downsizing to the basics, UBER-ing around town, and giving all of the proceeds to charity.

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It sounds extreme, but that’s who we are as a Church.

We are generous people who consistently offer our time, treasure, talent, and occasionally lay down our lives for the sake of the Gospel. 

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The Church has commissioned more missionaries, founded more hospitals, schools, orphanages, soup kitchens, high schools and universities than any other institution in human history.

Occasionally, these sacrifices are highlighted by the lives of Saints like Barnabas or Mother Teresa, but most often these sacrifices are made by ordinary people like us who live out their faith in little ways day by day.

We may not sell our homes or die as martyrs, but how many of us offer little sacrifices for the Lord, which when added up count for something significant?

Some of you purify our linens for Mass; others bring communion to the sick or homebound; others are staff, catechists, intercessors, SPX bakers, choir members, counters, ministry leaders, Christian parents, and so on.

May the spirit of Barnabas – a spirit of generosity and encouragement – continue growing in our community of faith through us because together we are doing something beautiful for the glory of God.

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Image credits: (1) LIfehack (2) Bibleinfo.com (3) iStock