He never gives up on us
Good thing for us that God is very patient and ever-loving
By Tim Trainor
How should we, as lay-persons, prepare ourselves to best, day in and out, 'go and proclaim the Gospel'? What should guide our interactions with people as we act as 'Ambassadors of Jesus'?
Saturday in the Octave of Easter
Acts 4:13-21
Mark 16:9-15
In an opening, an overview type of statement, I heard in this morning's Readings a very daunting command from the Lord: “GO into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature”! Imagine how this initially strikes the cowering Apostles who rejected Mary Magdalene’s witness!
Next, I note the amazing growth in courage of these same Apostles that we now hear about in our Acts Reading! What has happened, you may ask, in the period between Mark 16 and Acts 4? The answer lies, I believe, in our Psalm 118 reading where we hear: “My strength and my courage is the Lord and He has been My Savior”!
Note: the Catechism cites this very verse as its reference for the Cardinal Virtue of Fortitude which is also 1 of the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit! More about this Virtue later. Also, I find it very interesting that the Psalmist, inspired by the same Spirit centuries prior, sang: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works [a word for the Gospel at that time] of the Lord.” Just like He (the Spirit) centuries later ennobled the Apostles to be recognized as Jesus' companions, known for their boldness and “remarkable sign,” which even the hard-hearted Sanhedrin could not deny.
Our Gospel details that in the eyes of many people, Mary Magdalene personifies a person of low reputation at that time. Like the twelve Apostles, she too has an unpleasant background, but a person’s background or status in life is not important to Jesus. This is because Jesus has the power to transform. That is why when Jesus healed her, she became one of the most loyal disciples of the Lord. Indeed, a person who has been forgiven much, loves much (per Luke 7:47). Also, please note that she was given the privilege to be the first announcer of the good news of the resurrection.
Yet when Mary Magdalene shared with the Apostles what she saw and heard at the tomb, no one appeared to believe her. Perhaps her background came back to the Apostles’ mind, or maybe they thought she was hallucinating. People do not forget easily, plus, many times, they look at the messenger rather than the message.
The Apostles were incredulous about the resurrection story at that time, even after their two companions had been on the road to Emmaus. Yet Jesus is very patient with them. He does not easily give up on His people. So He appeared to all of them and, after rebuking them for their doubting, gave them the new mission: “To GO and proclaim the good news [or GOSPEL] to every creature”!
For those who doubt, the Lord gives them enough time to decide. Recall the picture of Jesus standing outside and knocking at the door of our hearts (per Revelation 3:20) until we acknowledge Him! I'm sure that you have seen this classic picture. Good thing for us that He is very patient, and ever loving, and that He never gives up on us!
In our Acts' Reading, the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, reacts to a now very different Peter and John. Despite being uneducated men, their boldness in preaching about Jesus and performing miracles astonishes them! Yet they cannot punish them because of the lack of legal grounds and the growing popularity of the Christian movement. The Sanhedrin's attempts to silence Peter and John are ultimately unsuccessful, highlighting the growing power, courage, and influence of the early Christian Church.
The Sanhedrin, composed of Jewish religious and political leaders, is presented as initially surprised and then frustrated by Peter and John's ability to preach about Jesus and heal a man. They recognize Peter and John as ordinary, uneducated men who were followers of Jesus. The Sanhedrin's astonishment is further fueled by the fact that the healed man was standing before them, a tangible demonstration of Jesus' power and the strength of the early Christian message. They are in a difficult position. They cannot deny the evidence of the miracle, nor can they legally punish Peter and John for their actions, as they have committed no crime. Plus, the growing popularity of the Christian movement, as mentioned earlier, makes it politically risky for them to take harsh action against the Apostles. Faced with this dilemma, they order Peter and John to cease preaching in “the name of Jesus.”
This is a thinly veiled threat to the Apostles that they will face 'some sort of concocted repercussion' if they continue their actions. But Peter and John refuse to obey the order, stating they cannot keep silent about what they have seen and heard. They are unwilling to compromise their faith and disobey God's Great Commission “to go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel”, even in the face of some sort of potential punishment for them! So, the Sanhedrin ultimately releases Peter and John. This act of release underscores the growing strength, influence, and gift of courage to the early Church!
Thus, in my mind, these events witness to the gift of Fortitude to the early Church in its ongoing defiance and in the Spirit's eventual just triumph over current religious and worldly political opposition, as the contents of Psalm 118, I believe, allude to.
This brings us to the question: What is Fortitude, and where does it come from?
The Catechism states: “Fortitude is 1 of the 4 Moral or Cardinal Virtues. It ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of Fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes us even to renounce and sacrifice our life to defend a just cause. "The Lord is my strength and my song." [Ps 118:14] "In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."[Jn 16:33]”
In case you are wondering, the other three Cardinal Virtues are: Prudence, Justice, and Temperance.
Together, they play a pivotal role and accordingly are called "cardinal or hinge virtues,” as all the other virtues are grouped around these four.
So, where does the Virtue Fortitude come from? It is one of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These Gifts are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude (the gift we read about being given to the Apostles in Mark 17 today), Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.
Initially, we received the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in baptism, and then, they were sealed and strengthened in each of us in confirmation. CCC 1830 states that these gifts “sustain the moral life of Christians, and make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.” Also, being a 'Gift' from the Holy Spirit, we can pray at any time for a greater outpouring of this Gift as the need arises. For a complete discussion of The Virtues, see CCC 1803-1845.
I want to finish up with some thoughts on The Great Commission we find at the end of our Gospel Reading today, when: “He [Jesus] said to them, Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel [or Good News] to every creature.”
How should we, as lay-persons, prepare ourselves to best, day in and out, 'go and proclaim the Gospel'? What should guide our interactions with people as we act as 'Ambassadors of Jesus'?
With the death of Pope Francis, I have decided to end by drawing on his consistent wisdom present in numerous past teachings on “How to share the Gospel.” He always says, “By being a Joyful Witness”!
For instance, in a 2023 Weekly Audience, he said, sharing the Gospel requires literally 'going out,' and witnessing to the joy of faith in person and not just sitting at home, being 'keyboard warriors' who argue with others online. He said. […We must be open to exploring new paths as we seek to share the Gospel through one of his favorite Franciscan types of his phrases, 'word and deed'.”
To that end, I think he would be 'ok' with me ending my Reflection with this poem, as it gives some solid examples of how to go and do: “Joy Filled Witnessing”!
Sermons We See
by Edgar Guest
I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.
One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language which to every one is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,
I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.
Now, that poem captures for me what I believe, Pope Francis would describe as “Joyful Witnessing”!