But 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 them, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to these men.
So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. 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.” They were persuaded by him. (Acts 5:34-35, 38-39 NABRE)
In a sudden turn of events as the apostles were on trial, Gamaliel, a member of the Sanhedrin, offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not the origin of this movement preached by the apostles it will perish by itself.*
What a powerful perspective we can glean from his observation! The origin of human endeavors can be from God. Again, not all human endeavors are from God, but it is possible that certain activity is.
My April 6 blog entry discusses truth as having to do with activities we are not ashamed of. The point of that entry is that things we do which are "in God" and not evil represent what is true. And so, I see today's passage as a sort of reinforcement of that concept.
Today, on this Friday of the Second Week of Easter, I will remember that when I work to build God's kingdom, no one will be able to destroy what is done.
Saint Julia Billiart, patron against poverty, bodily ills, impoverishment, poverty, sick people, and sickness, pray for us.
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