Sometimes, we may become impatient with the church but today’s reflection from Mass explores what it means to be patient and wait and see what God is doing.
BIBLE READINGS: The readings for Friday of the Second Week of Easter can be found here
“The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history,” is a quote primarily attributed to the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. It observes that humanity frequently repeats its past mistakes, wars, and injustices because it fails to apply previous lessons learned. In our own generation, perhaps we can apply this saying to things we experience today.
In the second reading today from the Acts of the Apostles, the apostles have been arrested and whilst they await their fate, Gamaliel, a wise and respected teacher of the law steps in to offer some advice and guidance. He refers to the past and to several individuals, Theudas and Judas the Galilean, who had risen up and gathered around them a group of supporters. When they died, their followers were scattered and their movements came to nothing. Gamaliel suggests that the same thought should be applied to this new movement of Jesus. Maybe, since their leader appears to have died, his followers may scatter too and in turn come to nothing. If they don’t, then maybe this movement may be of God, which means they will never be overthrown.
Despite the challenges experienced by the church today, it still remains. Battered and bruised, it still moves on. Day by day, members are added to its number. Sometimes, when we lose hope or trust in the church, when we question it or are questioned by others, perhaps we need to apply something of the wise patience of Gamaliel and believe that God will reveal his purposes. We may think that we know what is right for the church, and disagree with others, but ultimately the church exists because of Christ. The Church is the Body of Christ of which he is the Head. All we need to do is trust in him, follow his ways, and rejoice in all that he is doing.
Mass today is at Ss Saviour’s Church at 10am
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