|
_____________________________________________________________________________
Acts 4:23-31 (4/30) Apostle for Thursday of the Week of Thomas
Responses to the Gospel ~ IV: Strengthening: Acts 4:23-31, especially vs. 31: "And when they
had prayed...where they were assembled together...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and
they spoke the word of God with boldness."
Opportunities to proclaim the Gospel were plentiful (Acts 4:1-22). The Apostles proclaimed the
truth (Acts 3:11-26). The Holy Spirit moved many to believe (Acts 4:4). But some who could
have believed chose not to, for they lived timidly by human wisdom and expediency. They were
not even able to grasp the Apostles' witness. Rather, they tried to intimidate them into silence
(Acts 4:14,21).
In all that happened to the Christian community, the Church's witness was strengthened in
numbers by the power that comes from the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31) - empowered because, when
they assembled, they prayed and God filled them with the Holy Spirit. How they prayed was
crucial, so consider three distinct requests included in their prayers.
First, notice the similarity between the early Church's prayers and the present-day Prayers of the
Anaphora in the Divine Liturgy. In the phrase, "...they raised their voice to God with one
accord..." (vs. 24), one hears the source of the present-day bidding to the Anaphora, "Let us lift
up our hearts;" for remember that "accord" derives from the common Greek and Latin root for
"heart." As they prayed to "...God Who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in
them..." (vs. 24), determine to lift your heart to God, the "Master of all, Lord of heaven and
earth, and of all creation both visible and invisible..." - as it is said in the Liturgy of St. Basil.
Most of all, the Apostles' prayer, like the Anaphora, was "eucharistic" - filled with praise and
thanksgiving for the mighty acts of God. They celebrated God the Creator of all, Lord of the
Church, and Ruler of all nations. That earliest Christian community well understood that God is
the Source of all power and rule, and that, in Christ, He is carrying out His determined purpose
(vss. 27-28). But do not merely come to the Liturgy; make of it what it is - a work of the People.
Pray it attentively. Concentrate your heart to be one in accord with what is said that you may
strengthen the witness of the Church and your own witness before God.
Second, they rejoiced to see God accomplish His purpose and to see the plotting of certain
people and the counsel of earthly rulers made futile when opposing Him. Theirs was the witness
of winners, of those who know that neither fate, nor the blind forces of nature, nor luck, nor
destiny control history. God is the Lord - He Who cares for His people, Who loves you and me,
and Who sets His hand upon events for our healing and triumph. In English, "futile," derives
from a Latin word meaning to "pour forth." The observation, that those who pour out great words
often have the least to say, may have given the word its basic meaning. Beloved, rejoice, for God
is with you. Let all the peoples understand and submit themselves, for God is with us!
Finally, observe that the prayer of the Apostolic assembly petitioned the Lord for boldness, to
speak the word of God forcefully (vs. 29). Not only did they ask for boldness, but also they
begged God to "match" their efforts with signs and wonders "...done through the Name of Your
holy Servant Jesus" (vs. 30). We who partake "...of the divine, holy, immaculate, immortal,
heavenly, life-giving and dread Mysteries of Christ..." also give thanks to the Lord Who does
wonders. As St. Seraphim of Sarov says: "Great is the power of prayer, and it brings most of all
the Spirit of God, and is most easily practiced by everyone. We shall be blessed if the Lord God
finds us watchful and filled with the gifts of His Holy Spirit." Ask for God's blessing for true
boldness to match your efforts, and witness with signs and wonders.
Fill us, O Lord, with Thy Holy Spirit that we may ever speak Thy word with boldness.
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
