Prepared To Proclaim And Persevere

Acts 22:30,23:6-11
John 17:20-26

In today’s first reading, we see that the Chief priest and the entire Sanhedrin were excited to have a chance to get Paul condemned by the top military army commander of their territory who personally brought him before them to listen to their complaint. Although they have no love for Roman authority, they were a bit nervous and yet ready to have Paul executed. They were like lions ready in ambush to pounce on their prey

Paul had also prepared for them. He knew that while they were united in their desire to get him condemned, their unity was a fragile thing because there were many other issues about which they vigorously disagreed.  So, as soon as he stood before their condemning eyes, he launched his plan.  “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”  The resurrection of the dead was a belief firmly held by the Pharisees but hotly denied by the Sadducees.  So the in-fighting began. The argument heated up into a mayhem and a heavy military presence had to be used to rescue Paul from the enraged bloodthirsty Sanhedrin.

Earlier on, Paul was a man of deep conviction and strong beliefs as a pharisee. Yet, he could acknowledge that he had been wrong in his beliefs about Jesus and he could embrace those he had once condemned.  At first he was convinced that the followers of Jesus were heretics and should be condemned, even to death.  After his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, he realized that Christ was the fulfillment of God’s revelation.  And that was just the beginning of the changes in his life.  He continued to grow in his understanding, changing his views on the law, moving beyond the Jewish community to the Gentiles, and recognizing in the sufferings and death of Christ the path to true life for all believers.  Paul is a remarkable example of someone with strong faith who could still really listen to the voice of God coming to him through the people in his life.

The salient question is Do we condemn those who do not agree with us and sometimes treat them with disrespect and even contempt? Do we wrap ourselves in our convictions and are confident that those who don’t share our every belief are unworthy? We are challenged every day to give an account of our faith and with the example of St. Paul, we are not to get caught up in internal squabbles and self-righteous condemnations of others, but give visible witness to God’s love for all peoples. May the Holy Spirit guide us in resolving conflicts, and may we come together as one.

Fr Joseph Osho