We must obey God rather than men

In today’s first reading (Acts 5:27-33), St. Peter’s retort to the Sanhedrin, the same men who arranged Christ’s execution, could not be more blunt.

But that’s just the way it is.

It is good for us to be prudent in our words and deeds: to try to win for Christ as many souls as possible.

But the bottom line is that not all people will respond to us kindly and that ‘we must obey God rather than men.’

It is good to be polite and prudent, but ultimately we must be faithful.

In the words of Pope John Paul II that have been quoted so often in these days:

Be not afraid.