The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be witnesses to the Way of Jesus especially in our work today, International Workers’ Day.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Twelve immediately resume public teaching.
* [5:17–42] A second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the Twelve; cf. Acts 4:1–3. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the popularity of the apostles (Acts 5:17) who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin’s previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role (Acts 5:28; cf. Acts 4:18). In this crisis the apostles are favored by a miraculous release from prison (Acts 5:18–24). (For similar incidents involving Peter and Paul, see Acts 12:6–11; 16:25–29.) The real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only to people of faith, not to unbelievers; since the Sanhedrin already judged the Twelve to be inauthentic prophets, it could disregard reports of their miracles. When the Twelve immediately resumed public teaching, the Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death (Acts 5:33) prescribed in Dt 13:6–10. Gamaliel’s advice against this course finally prevailed, but it did not save the Twelve from the punishment of scourging (Acts 5:40) in a last endeavor to shake their conviction of their prophetic mission. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 34 is a thanksgiving.
* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is the One from Heaven.
* [3:31–36] It is uncertain whether these are words by the Baptist, Jesus, or the evangelist. They are reflections on the two preceding scenes. (John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rashmi Fernando, S.J. comments that at the heart of today’s readings is Jesus and the apostles’ unwavering witness to God—not through grand displays of power, but through voluntary obedience.
Am I willing to trust in God who chooses to walk with me in my humanity, or do I still look for signs of divine power that fit my expectations of strength and control?
In what areas of my life do I resist surrendering to God's will, mistaking obedience for weakness instead of seeing it as an act of radical love and trust? (Fernando, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Always bless the Lord!” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When are you to 'bless the Lord?' When he showers blessings on you? When earthly goods are plentiful? When you have a plethora of grain, oil, wine, gold, silver... - while your mortal body remains healthy, uninjured and free from disease; while everything that is born on your estate is growing well, and nothing is snatched away by untimely death; while every kind of happiness floods your home and you have all you want in profusion? Is it only then that you are to bless the Lord? No, but 'at all times.' So you are to bless him equally when from time to time, or because the Lord God wishes to discipline you, these good things let you down or are taken from you, when there are fewer births or the already-born slip away. These things happen, and their consequence is poverty, need, hardship, disappointment and temptation. But you sang, 'I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be in my mouth always,' so when the Lord gives you these good things, bless him, and when he takes them away, bless him. He it is who gives, and he it is who takes away, but he does not take himself away from anyone who blesses him. (excerpt from EXPOSITIONS OF THE PSALMS 34.3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 5:27-33 comments that like the disciples, we, too, are witnesses to Jesus, and we, too, are called to proclaim the good news to the people we encounter each day. But we can easily forget that it’s not all up to us. We need the Spirit, not only to help us become effective witnesses, but to work in mighty ways that will convince people that Jesus is who he says he is.
So turn to the Holy Spirit and ask him to witness with you! He will provide opportunities to share your faith. He will give you the courage and the right words to say. He will come in power when you pray with someone. He is always at work—and he can’t be stopped!
“Holy Spirit, empower me to be your witness today!” (Meditation on Acts 5:27-33, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler presents the boldness of the Apostles in their assertion that they have to obey God and not the Sanhedrin when they are witnessing Jesus Love and life. Jesus has come to speak of spiritual things in John. Friar Jude identifies the Spirit as the love between the Father and the Son that we experience now and its fulfillment in the future.
Brian McLaren cites the work of Franciscan Sister Thea Bowman (1937–1990) who reflects on where she learned about our sacred responsibility for creation.
From the spiritual tradition of the black community, I learned that we are all God’s creatures.… I grew up with people who taught us how to respect and appreciate nature, to study nature’s secrets, to reverence the very soil beneath our feet. My people in the South were farmers and they learned patience. You can’t rush the seasons; you can’t call forth the rain.
They also learned not to waste! And that’s something we all need to pay more attention to today! It’s important not to take more than we need. Take your share and leave the rest for the others. If we live cooperatively the earth produces sufficiently to feed and shelter us all….
My people have been teaching us about Creation Spirituality for as long as I can remember. We just didn’t have a name for it. Respect and love for all of creation; stewardship of the earth and its resources; collaboration and cooperation; appreciation, gratitude, faith, hope and love for all of humankind—basic life-giving, life-sharing values and virtues. [2] (McLaren, n.d.)
We are reminded today of the gift of the Spirit to boost our courage to witness to the life that Jesus offers through our obedience to His example of love, compassion, and mercy.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?27
Fernando, R. (2025, May 1). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/050125.html
John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?31
McLaren, B. (n.d.). Appreciating the Land. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/appreciating-the-land/
Meditation on Acts 5:27-33. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/05/01/1265603/
Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?2
Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Who Believes in the Son Has Eternal Life. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=may1
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