“Claiming to be someone important”

There are people who desperately want to be important, such as politicians or psychopaths.

Nor are the rest of us immune. We may not want to be famous or powerful, but we insist upon having our own way or we make our being “respected” the goal of every decision and indeed of our entire lives.

In today’s first reading (Acts 5:34-42) we hear of men who claimed “to be someone important” and actually convinced many for a while.

But they died and everything they did came to naught.

The Apostles, on the other hand, are

rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the Name.

It is better to be faithful than to be “important”.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.