The Obedience of Faith
Posted On March 29, 2008
Saturday in the Octave of Easter
Readings: Acts 4:13-21; Mk 16:9-15
Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight for us to obey you rather than God Acts 4:19
Today’s readings give us a pretty clear “before and after” look at the disciples and teach us an important lesson about believing and doing.
Mark’s Gospel presents a brief, but significant sequence of events. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, who immediately goes to announce the good news to the disciples. They refuse to believe her. Next He appears to the two men on the road to Emmaus, who immediately return to Jerusalem to announce the good news to the others. Again the disciples refuse to believe. Then Jesus appears to the Eleven, chides them for their disbelief, and commissions them to “go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation” (16:15).
The message is clear: believe and proclaim the good news.
The reading from Acts shows us how the disciples were able to put their belief in the Lord into action after the Holy Spirit had empowered them to live in the obedience of faith. Peter and John have been arrested and brought before the council of priests and elders, where they are warned not to continue teaching in the name of Jesus. They respond, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight for us to obey you rather than God” (4:19).
So what about you and me? Are we just here to applaud for Peter and John and the other great apostles who boldly proclaimed the good news no matter what the consequences?
In many ways, the society we live in warns us not to proclaim our faith, not to share our beliefs about such issues as sexual morality, the dignity of the human person, the sanctity of life, and the preservation of marriage. But the Church teaches that we must not only keep the faith, “but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it” (CCC 1816). As Jesus told St. Faustina, “Even the strongest faith is of no avail without works” (Diary, 742).
Whom will you obey?
Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so that I may have the courage to bear witness to the truth and proclaim the good news of Your love.
No doubt, this is a huge challenge to us. Not only that, but as you said a command to do so. Were afraid because we don’t want to offend anyone but this a unrealistic way to live life. No matter what we do or how passive we may be, we will always be in a position to offend someone. In the Psalms it says that the wicked scoff at the righteous because they reprove them and do no support there works of iniquity. Let us set a trap and wait for the righteous.
I am trying to live a authentic Catholic Life in the public square so to speak but it isn’t easy. I have faced a lot of resistance. On the flip side though, I have gained good friends. I think if your present your faith as something that can be compromised, people tend not to put much stock in your faith. Your faith just becomes another faith in the world of many faiths. If they see you hold fast to your faith in the midst of trials, they may want to know more about your faith and where your strength comes from.