Thursday, April 11, 2024
The human authorities
An excerpt from Acts 5:29-31
Peter and the apostles answered the high priest, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”
Reflection from Bruce Moore, St. Gregory’s: We have many “authorities” throughout our life. We have parents, teachers, mentors, and clergy. For good or for ill, they teach us what they think we should know. We take on these teachings and carry them with us. However, we sometimes find ourselves at a point in our lives where the teachings of the “authorities” are challenged. We find a higher authority that sits better with our soul. Peter and the apostles find themselves in such a situation. The “authorities” whom they had been taught to fear and obey, without question, were giving them direct orders to obey. Through the teachings of Jesus Christ and the power of prayer, Peter and the apostles found the strength to look beyond their earthly “authorities” to a high calling. A calling not to strict teaching and rules – but to a calling of love, compassion, generosity, and joy.
ADDITIONAL READINGS:
For further study and prayer, the readings assigned for today are:
• Psalms 34:15–22
• Acts 5:27–33
• John 3:31–36
MUSIC:
“Praise to the Lord the Almighty”
arr. Mack Wilberg
“Praise to the Lord,
over all things he gloriously reigneth
Borne as on eagle wings,
safely his saints he sustaineth.”
Tags: Easter to Pentecost 2024