You know who they are

The Pharisees…

The Sanhedrin…

The bad guys…

…or so they always seem to be in the New Testament.

But in today’s first reading (Acts 5:34-42), we hear wise words from a Pharisee, from a member of the dreaded Sanhedrin, speaking of what is being done by the Apostles:

For if this plan or this undertaking is of men,
it will fail;
but if it is of God,
you will not be able to overthrow them.
You might even be found opposing God!

Gamaliel the Pharisee also happened to be the teacher and mentor of the man we know today as St. Paul the Apostle.

His words and his example are a reminder to all of us not to let our likes and dislikes short-circuit the necessary discernment we must have in dealing with people and with the ways of faith.

Pope John Paul II, who was laid to rest today, was bound neither by prejudice nor by political correctness as he reached out to others with respect and humility as well as with clarity about the truth of Christ.

We ourselves should not make decisions based on “our gut,” but on the truth and the Spirit of God.