The embrace the opportunities of everyday life.

We have a number of such ideals—what a man, a woman, a husband, a wife, a father, a mother, a priest, and so on should be like. Such ideals are often presented to us, or we present them to ourselves or to others. This need not be a problem as long as the ideal is seen as the goal of a long journey and as long as partial goals are also presented that motivate us to take the next step. But the situation becomes much more complicated when we start from the goal. This is how it should be, so let’s sell our property and have common ownership. And that is precisely where problems begin—he gave only that much, why should I give more; I have already given up, so why do I have to keep giving in again; I’m trying, and the others don’t care…

Exactly these kinds of situations arise when we approach things from the opposite direction, when we start from the goal. A person places himself as if at the finish line—this is how it should be—and then tries to build the road backward. What follows is a kind of social engineering, or better said, religious engineering. I know what my life should look like, so I strive by every possible means to construct everything so that it will be that way. But this is a road to frustration, disappointment, hopelessness, and discouragement.

I invite you now to look at how the first community approached it.

The description of the “ideal” community comes at the end of a narrative that begins in Acts chapter 3. There we read: 1 Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. They were not doing anything special and did not plan anything special. They were just going to pray, as they always did. But at the entrance to the temple they meet a man lame from birth, whom people carried there every day. The lame man expects money from them. Peter responds to his expectation: “Look at us!” 5 He looked at them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise and walk!” Peter does not give what is expected of him; he gives something much greater. We might say that we do not know how to heal, but that is no excuse—we still possess many things the world is poor in.

This healing arouses interest, and the apostles once again seize the opportunity. They see a chance to proclaim, so they use it: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?” It is worth reflecting on the structure of Peter’s address. It is a kerygmatic catechesis centered on Christ. He names the problem but also gives the solution. And above all, he gives hope. “You killed the Author of life, but God raised him from the dead; and we are witnesses of this.” “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your leaders.” “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” In his speech Peter further points out how the prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled in Christ. It is worth reading the whole chapter.

Naturally, the event draws the attention of the priests: 1 While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 They laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. It is interesting that it is precisely in times of persecution that they multiply.

The next day Peter has another opportunity to proclaim. He speaks with complete confidence. For the first time the apostles have the chance to experience that what Jesus promised them really works: “Make up your minds not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I will give you eloquence and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict” (Luke 21:14–15). Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, says in his defense: “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

This speech causes amazement: 13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, ordinary men, they were astonished; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

In the end they do threaten them, but Peter and John respond unambiguously: “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God; 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for they were all glorifying God for what had happened.

As we see, the apostles were not doing anything extraordinary; they had no plan to build anything. They did nothing artificial or preplanned, but acted entirely naturally. Everything came as the fruit of living their faith and seizing the opportunities that arose. Of course, they were not improvising. They had a strong personal experience, and they bore witness to it.

What qualifications did the apostles have for proclaiming? (reflect on the text and try to identify their qualifications and strengths)
What personal experience do I have with God? What do I see and hear about God?
Can I share it?
What are people hungry for today?
What could I offer them?
What opportunity could I use to invite someone to reflect? To encourage? To give hope?