Octave of Easter 2006 (Sat): Acts 4.13-21; Mark 16.9-15
Fr. Philip N. Powell, OP
St. Albert the Great Priory
Do you find it impossible not to witness to the truth of the Catholic faith? Do you find it impossible not to talk with others about the two thousand year old and still kicking tradition of Jesus, Paul, Ambrose, Gregory of Nyssa, Basil the Great, Augustine, Benedict, Anselm, Francis, Dominic, Bonaventure, Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, Pius V, John of the Cross, Theresa of Avila, Ignatius, Francis de Sales, Pius X, Pius XII, Edith Stein, Maximillian Kolbe, John Paul the Great, and Benedict XVI?
Do you find it impossible not to talk with others about the fruitfulness of the Blessed Mother’s intercessory prayer, the redemptive sacrifice of the Mass, the gratutious offer from the Father to share in His divine life and His offer of boundless mercy?
Do you find it impossible not to share your faith, not to share your tradition, not to share what you know to be the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ? I hope so! I hope you find it painfully impossible to refrain from witnessing in word and deed, by your speech and by your work, to what you have seen and heard. I hope you will find yourselves among those who will dispute you, challenge you, deny you, perhaps even punish you for speaking the truth of the faith. It must be told. The truth of the faith cannot not be told. It will be proclaimed. If not by me, then you. If not the rich, then the poor. If not in America and Europe, then in Asia and Africa. If not by Catholics, then who? The Spirit will find His tongue and speak His Word.
Peter and John, ordered to silence by the elders, cry out, “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” This is not stubbornness, an obstinate refusal to be quiet. It is quite literally impossible for them to be silent. Everything that they are, their very being, bears witness to, holds up for viewing the mighty work of Christ in their lives. They are transformed, made new, brought to fruition, perfected and given the spirit of witness—the power of the Word moves their tongues to incite the gathered crowd to praise God!
Temptations to remain silent abound. There are the temptations of being too embarrassed to speak the truth—I may be challenged by unbelievers! The temptations of false humility—I’m not holy enough! Not smart enough! The temptations of relativism—None of us can know the truth! My truth is my truth, your truth is your truth! The temptation of Pontius Pilate—What is truth anyway? The temptation of Peter before the resurrection—Out of fear, I deny the truth!
Name these temptations what they are: Cowardice. Deflection. Procrastination. Laziness. And then remember Mary Magdalene, the one to whom Christ first appeared after his execution, and remember her radiant joy, her overflowing peace, and her excited need to tell the truth: He is risen! The tomb is empty! Remember the Eleven at table. Remember Christ appearing to them and rebuking them for their hard hearts. And remember his order to them: Go to the whole world and proclaim the gospel. Go to every creature and speak my truth, teach what I taught, preach what I preached.
And don’t be afraid. I am with you. Death is dead. And I am with you.
Fr. Philip N. Powell, OP
St. Albert the Great Priory
Do you find it impossible not to witness to the truth of the Catholic faith? Do you find it impossible not to talk with others about the two thousand year old and still kicking tradition of Jesus, Paul, Ambrose, Gregory of Nyssa, Basil the Great, Augustine, Benedict, Anselm, Francis, Dominic, Bonaventure, Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, Pius V, John of the Cross, Theresa of Avila, Ignatius, Francis de Sales, Pius X, Pius XII, Edith Stein, Maximillian Kolbe, John Paul the Great, and Benedict XVI?
Do you find it impossible not to talk with others about the fruitfulness of the Blessed Mother’s intercessory prayer, the redemptive sacrifice of the Mass, the gratutious offer from the Father to share in His divine life and His offer of boundless mercy?
Do you find it impossible not to share your faith, not to share your tradition, not to share what you know to be the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ? I hope so! I hope you find it painfully impossible to refrain from witnessing in word and deed, by your speech and by your work, to what you have seen and heard. I hope you will find yourselves among those who will dispute you, challenge you, deny you, perhaps even punish you for speaking the truth of the faith. It must be told. The truth of the faith cannot not be told. It will be proclaimed. If not by me, then you. If not the rich, then the poor. If not in America and Europe, then in Asia and Africa. If not by Catholics, then who? The Spirit will find His tongue and speak His Word.
Peter and John, ordered to silence by the elders, cry out, “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” This is not stubbornness, an obstinate refusal to be quiet. It is quite literally impossible for them to be silent. Everything that they are, their very being, bears witness to, holds up for viewing the mighty work of Christ in their lives. They are transformed, made new, brought to fruition, perfected and given the spirit of witness—the power of the Word moves their tongues to incite the gathered crowd to praise God!
Temptations to remain silent abound. There are the temptations of being too embarrassed to speak the truth—I may be challenged by unbelievers! The temptations of false humility—I’m not holy enough! Not smart enough! The temptations of relativism—None of us can know the truth! My truth is my truth, your truth is your truth! The temptation of Pontius Pilate—What is truth anyway? The temptation of Peter before the resurrection—Out of fear, I deny the truth!
Name these temptations what they are: Cowardice. Deflection. Procrastination. Laziness. And then remember Mary Magdalene, the one to whom Christ first appeared after his execution, and remember her radiant joy, her overflowing peace, and her excited need to tell the truth: He is risen! The tomb is empty! Remember the Eleven at table. Remember Christ appearing to them and rebuking them for their hard hearts. And remember his order to them: Go to the whole world and proclaim the gospel. Go to every creature and speak my truth, teach what I taught, preach what I preached.
And don’t be afraid. I am with you. Death is dead. And I am with you.
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