15 April 2023
Saturday in the Octave of Easter
Do not be silent! This is the message of the books of Acts on this Easter Saturday. Our testimony, our good works, and even miraculous occurrences that God performs are reasons to speak out and to share the graces of God with others. However, even miracles or the good news of God will not always engender positive responses, like what we hear happened to Peter and the apostles in Acts. In response to their preaching, their conversions, and even their miracles, some leaders of their day asked them to be silent. They were asked to stop speaking of Christ and stop telling others about the things of God. To this they responded: “it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” They cannot keep silent. The good news was so compelling that they had to share it come what may.
Let us pray for the grace of this holy boldness. Let us pray that the Resurrected Christ so enflame our hearts like he did with Peter and the early disciples that we too can reply – when people in our lives desire our silence about Christ – that “it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”