We must obey God rather than men
“The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,but the wrath of God remains upon him".(Jn 3:31-36)
In today's readings, you can clearly see the strong contrast that is between the words of God - and the words of men; and listening to God - and listening to men. We must obey God more than people, Peter says today to the rulers of this world, i.e., those who, in a way of definitions should always be listened to. Meanwhile, some unlearned group and insignificant fishermen dare to tell them straight in the face that they will not listen to them because they have to obey God more than people. It is them precisely - spiritual leaders - are universally recognized and they consider themselves the voice of God. So, by what right you troublemakers, disciples of the defeated and finally "silenced" Teacher allowthemselves to look elsewhere for the voice of God? After all, they were explicitly forbidden to teach in the name of Jesus! But the Apostlesknew that whoever comes from on high rules overall, and whoever comes from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in the earthly way. The one who comes from heaven is above all. This was what their Master spoke to Nicodemus, the righteous Pharisee, with whom he had a long conversation the other night ... so when Jesus was not visibly with them, but he supported their activity by the Spirit, they were able to distinguish and unmistakably recognize who is coming from on high and who belongs to the earth and speaks earthly, although he announces to everyone around him that he is officially a representative of God on the earth.
Unfortunately, once again it turned out that it is not enough to have such or another office, or to flaunt even the most reputable origin. You still have to be humble with God and listen to God - precisely: obey God more than people! Obey God more than ourselves. The Scribes and Pharisees and all the officials in the Jewish nation were unable to understand.
AND today, my dear ones, there is no shortage of those who are earthly speakers, although they say that they are supported by divine authority. Unfortunately - sadly though it is - there is no shortage of gibberish in the Church! Both, in the statements of clergy and laity. Specially when the expression of this gibberish is the blurring of clear and sharp distinctions between truth and falsehood; between what it is right, in accordance with God's law and leads to salvation – and what is sin and leads straight to condemnation!
Today we all have to strike our chest and think do we listen more to God, or do we listen more to people, and thus the suggestions brought by the world and imposed by its trends - fashionable now and comfortable? ... Are we closer to the Gospel, or to political and moral correctness? Is our talk and the whole testimony of the Christian attitude clear, a clear and strong message, or totally "slurred" gibberish?!
We all must ask ourselves these questions: clergy and laity. Because Jesus says today clearly and unambiguously: “For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him”. The end – period.
One more thought
Today the officials say: We strictly forbade you ... (to open the churches) and you filled our cities with your teaching ... and you want to bring pandemic on us ... Well, this is a twisted translation. This prohibition. The apostle’s answer: “We must obey God rather than men”Human prohibitions will remain only human prohibitions, a human law, will be a human law. But God is above all that humans invent ... Even if this legislation tries to put itself above religion ...
“We must obey God rather than men” - Let us remember this: When any ideology tries to enter our spiritual life or to our churches with dirty shoes. When the Bible is burned in the name of tolerance and artistic or racial freedom or whether to destroy religious symbols. When the name of Christ is offended, etc. Let us always repeat this sentence: We must obey God more than people whenever there is a need. But we must be ready that it will cause similar reactions to the words of the apostles: When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george