Category: Daily Reflections

“Look around among your own number, brothers, for seven men acknowledged to be deeply spiritual and prudent.” —Acts 6:3 Did you notice that the leaders of the early Church placed the responsibility for finding deacons on the “community of the disciples”? (Acts 6:2) That’s us! We are to be on the lookout for those who would make good leaders in the Church. This was new for the early Christians. Jewish priests and Levites were born into their positions. The apostles were called and chosen by Jesus Himself. The early Church, however, called the whole community of disciples to raise up...

” ‘Philip,’ Jesus replied, ‘after I have been with you all this time, you still do not know Me?’ ” —John 14:9 St. Philip asked Jesus a question to which Jesus clearly expected Philip to already know the answer. Unfortunately, I can relate all too well to St. Philip, and perhaps some of you can relate as well. Often I must hear information several times before it finally sinks into my mind. Thankfully, Philip was not too proud to offer Jesus his ignorance and lack of understanding. Philip allowed Jesus to take it away and replace it with the Holy...

“Better for us to obey God than men! The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus.” —Acts 5:29 Jesus of Nazareth died for our salvation and rose from the dead. After He poured out the Holy Spirit, people began to realize His name was above every other name. At His name, every knee must bend and every tongue proclaim that Jesus is Lord (Phil 2:10-11). The Spirit inspired the apostles to teach about Jesus’ name and fill Jerusalem with it (Acts 5:28). Nonetheless, the authorities gave “strict orders not to teach” about Jesus’ name (Acts 5:28). The apostles defied...

“Go out now and take your place in the temple precincts and preach to the people all about this new life.” —Acts 5:20 The apostles were in prison, and then the angel of the Lord miraculously set them free (Acts 5:19). In addition to being set free of the physical chains that had bound them in jail, the apostles were also free of the chains of fear which had formerly kept them hidden in the upper room before receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (see Jn 20:19; cf Acts 2:4). It would have been understandable if the apostles had fled...

“With power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” —Acts 4:33 Alleluia! Jesus is risen! We are His witnesses (see Acts 1:8). We will have credibility and power in proclaiming Jesus’ Resurrection if: We devote ourselves “to the apostles’ instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Our community is “of one heart and one mind” (Acts 4:32). There is no one needy among us, for those “who [own] property or houses” would sell them and donate the proceeds, and “lay them at the feet of the apostles to...