Monday April 8, 2024
Theme: “Breaking the good news to the authorities”
Text: Acts 23:1-11
1. Paul, with his eyes fixed on the Sanhedrin, said: Men and brethren, it is in all good conscience that I have behaved until this day before God... 2. The high priest Ananias commanded those who were near of him to hit him on the mouth. 3. Then Paul said to him, God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit to judge me according to the law, and you violate the law by ordering me to be beaten! 4. Those who were near him said: You insult the high priest of God! 5. And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that this was the high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. 6. Paul, knowing that part of the assembly consisted of Sadducees and part of Pharisees, cried out in the Sanhedrin: Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; it is because of hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am under judgment. 7. When he had said this, there arose a dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the congregation was divided. 8. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there is neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees affirm both things. 9. There was a great outcry, and some of the scribes of the party of the Pharisees stood up and began a heated debate, and said, We find no evil in this man; perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him. 10. As the discord grew, the tribune, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by these people, sent the soldiers down to take him from among them and take him to the fortress. 11. The following night the Lord appeared to Paul, and said, Take courage; for just as you have borne witness of me in Jerusalem, so must you bear witness in Rome.
Let's remember:
The Lord wants us in his harvest to announce the good news to the administrative, political, military and religious authorities. The political organization of the time was based on divine guidance. It was God who was the supreme King and his servants had pre-eminence over the laity, even if they were kings. Currently several states are secular. Secularism presupposes the separation of the State and religious organizations. The authorities representing the State cannot interfere in the management of religious issues except when it comes to legislating on the organization of religious life. And so, the Lord God wants us to enter into the scope of evangelism, edification to bring the message of repentance and salvation to authorities all around. According to God's will expressed in 1 Timothy 2:2. We are to pray “for kings and for all who are exalted in dignity, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives, in all godliness and honesty. 3. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4. who desires that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” God wants to save our authorities from moral and spiritual error “so that, having returned to their common sense, they will free themselves from the traps of the devil, who has taken hold of them to submit them to his will”. He wants to allow them to lead with clairvoyance, relying on the moral values contained in his Word. This is how they will fight against all depravity. Let us tell them the Good News. Have a great Monday. Amen
Alain Louz.-