A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time, and said to the Sanhedrin, "Fellow children of Israel, be careful what you are about to do to these men. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God. (Acts 5:34-42)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041726.cfm
Political attacks on the church are nothing new. If we preach the gospel of peace and justice, the powers that be will not be pleased. It was Stalin who derisively asked, “The pope, how many divisions does he have?” https://youtu.be/VCWSz0mL888?si=A6ZTZ9ckOjw8UHSP
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Friday II, Easter
