to obey is to disobey
"Whoever believes in the Son has life eternal. Whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure the wrath of God." —John 3:36
Peter and John told the Sanhedrin: "Better for us to obey God than men!" (Acts 5:29) This meant: "Better for us to teach about Jesus' name than be intimidated by your threats" (see Acts 5:28). Because Peter and John stifled fear instead of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Thes 5:19), they received the Spirit in even greater abundance, for the Spirit is "given to those that obey" the Lord (Acts 5:32).
How can we apply this part of the Bible to our times? Should we say:
- "Better for us not to pay federal income taxes than to fund Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry"?
- "Better for us to be fired from our jobs than miss an opportunity to share our faith in Jesus"?
- "Better for us to home-school our children than expose them to brainwashing from secular humanism"?
- "Better to be attacked or mocked at work or school than tolerate pornography, profane language, racist remarks, or gossip"?
- "Better to be shunned by the crowd than compromise the truth"?
- "Better for us to be pure than popular"?
If we truly choose "the better part" (Lk 10:42), we will not sadden the Holy Spirit but receive an unrationed (Jn 3:34), lavish (Ti 3:6) outpouring of the rivers of the Holy Spirit (Jn 7:37ff). The Spirit is given to those who disobey the world in obeying God.
Prayer: Father, give me the Holy Spirit of disobedience.
Promise: "The One Whom God has sent speaks the words of God; He does not ration His gift of the Spirit." —Jn 3:34
Praise: Gloria works part-time so she can spend the rest of her week serving the poor and worshiping the Lord at daily Mass.
Reference: (You may wish to order our pamphlets, Abortion and Your Taxes and There's No Place Like Home-Schooling.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Edward J. Gratsch, October 10, 1995
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 13, 1995