“It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20
Have you ever experienced something so beautiful, so exciting, or so moving that you just couldn’t keep it to yourself?
Maybe it was the birth of your child or a grandchild. Maybe it was good news after a long wait – a clean bill of health, a solution to a really challenging problem at work, a repaired relationship, getting accepted into that dream school. Maybe it was something simple – a stunning summer sunset, a moment of kindness you saw on campus or at the local grocery store, an answered prayer when you weren’t sure God even still knew you were in the picture.
What did you do afterward? You told someone! Not because you had to, but because it was impossible not to.
That is where we meet Peter and John in today’s reading.
These are two men: untrained, unschooled, “ordinary,” as Luke says. They are standing before the most powerful religious authorities of their day. Thet are being told, in no uncertain terms, to shut it down, knock it off. Stop preaching. Stop teaching. Stop talking about Jesus. Or else!
And what was their response?
“Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
They are not stubborn. They are not trying to cause a scene. Instead, they knew they had seen it all! They have walked with the Risen Christ. They have watched him turn water into wine. They have seen a disabled man dance. They have felt resurrection in Jesus’s hands. And now, Easter is more than just a memory or a message – it is their mission! They must tell whoever they can about this exceptional news. Even under threat and persecution, they do not fold. They proclaim the resurrection of Jesus out of overflowing joy.
As we find ourselves still clearly in the light of Easter, we celebrate the joyous resurrection of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world. Like Peter and John, we are called to stand firm in the face of the world and say, “It’s impossible for us NOT to speak about what we have heard. Not out of defiance, but out of joy knowing that Jesus lives and always will. He has transformed everything for you and for me and for all of the world.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in awe and gratitude for the miraculous resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. As Peter and John proclaimed with unwavering joy, we too are compelled to share the extraordinary news of His victory over sin and death.
Lord, grant us the courage to stand firm in our faith, even when faced with opposition and persecution. Empower us to speak boldly, not out of defiance, but out of the overflowing joy that fills our hearts.
Help us to remember that we are Easter people, not just for a day or a season, but for eternity. May the light of Christ’s resurrection shine brightly through us, transforming our lives and the lives of those around us.
We praise You, O Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the whole world. Let the truth of Your eternal love be the mission that drives us each day.
Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed. Alleluia!
Amen.
Mardell Wilson
A member of the Creighton community since October 2020, it has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve as Provost. I am a registered dietitian and hold a faculty appointment in the Department of Exercise Science. Before coming to Creighton, I served as Dean of the Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University. Prior to SLU, the bulk of my faculty career, where I earned tenure and promotion to Professor, was at Illinois State University. It was at ISU where I began my administration career and served in various roles. After only one year in full-time clinical practice did an opportunity present itself to serve as faculty and program director at Illinois Central College. I was in the classroom for only a short time before I realized that higher education was my passion. Reflecting upon a career that has spanned nearly 29 years in higher education, I am blessed for the many wonderful students, faculty, staff and administrators that I have had the opportunity to work with and among.
My husband, Dave, and I met while I was a senior in high school and have been blessed with 31 years of marriage and two wonderful adult sons, Jonah and Elliott. I enjoy running and baking – it’s a complimentary passion, as well as golfing and spending time together as a family.
What a gift it is to express how the daily readings impact our daily lives. Although not an easy task as a lay person, spending time in scripture, and related prayer, provides the opportunity to take a necessary pause from the hustle and bustle that we all can get caught up in. Finding God in all things requires us to be vigilant about looking for God in all things.
