REVOLUTIONARY

“We must obey God rather than human beings!”– Acts 5:29

                Over the centuries,countlessmen and women have been tested on this point of obeying God rather than men. Some have even paid for it with their lives.

             In 1535, St. Thomas More stood up to the powerful King Henry VIII of England and chose death by execution rather than disobey God. As he approached his executioner, he declared, “I am the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”

                 While not all of us may have to die for our faith, we will be tested. Today, Christians are being dragged into court for refusing to obey laws that violate their faith. My friend’s professional practice as an obstetrician has been seriously impacted by her refusal to perform medical procedures that go against her beliefs. Her clientele thinned, and the options where she can work are severely limited. But God is more important to her.

                 Pope Francis challenged us in World Youth Day 2013 to be revolutionaries, to swim against the tide, to rebel against a culture that says, “It’s better to cheat than repeat,” or “It’s OK as long as you don’t get caught.” Let’s choose God first, God alone, God always. Beth Melchor (epmelchor6@gmail.com)

Reflect: Are you ready to stand up and be counted as one of God’s revolutionaries?

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

St. Teresa of Los Andes, pray for us. 

Like the Apostles, we will encounter the same situation in our lives. There are laws and practices in our country that we cannot accept because they are against the teachings of the Gospel and the Church. As followers of Jesus, we are committed to the truth and stand against what is contrary to His will. As a consequence, this brings us into conflict with the authorities. Let us be firm in our beliefs and follow the Gospel.

Acts 5:27-33

27 When the court officers had brought the Apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, 28 “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.” 29 But Peter and the Apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.

PSALM 

Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-18, 19-20

R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

1 [2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 8 [9] Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R) 16 [17] The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. 17 [18] When the just cry out, the Lord hears them and from all their distress he rescues them. (R) 18 [19] The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. 19 [20] Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the Lord delivers him. (R) 

GOSPEL

Jesus has given us the hope of eternal life through His passion, death, and resurrection. We are saved by what He has done. There may be people who never hear the Gospel but live righteously — through Him they are also saved. Jesus is the way to the Father and eternal life. He is the only Way, Truth and Life.

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!