Homily for Thursday in the Second Week of Eastertide, delivered in Chanel College Chapel, Gladstone, Qld.

"When the officials had brought the apostles in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation. ‘We gave you a formal warning’ he said ‘not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man’s death on us.’ In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus... to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins... We are witnesses to all this...'" (cf. Acts 5).

"Many are the trials of the just man but from them all the Lord will rescue him." (Ps 34).

"John the Baptist said to his disciples: ‘He who comes from above is above all others; he who is born of the earth is earthly himself and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven bears witness to the things he has seen and heard, even if his testimony is not accepted; though all who do accept his testimony are attesting the truthfulness of God, since he whom God has sent speaks God’s own words: God gives him the Spirit without reserve. The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to him. Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life...'" (cf. Jn 3).

Artwork: "Pieta with Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea", by Pietro Perugino, (c. 1495).