Dear Friends,

Learning from the early Christian Community lets us hear Peter announcing the core kerygma, or the essential truths of our faith.

According to Peter, Jesus was a man commanded by God, with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs. Jesus was delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God. He was crucified and rose again, and God has made him both Lord and Messiah. This is the stark truth of the Resurrection. And the people ask Peter and the other Apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?" and Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:22-23, 36, 38)

The news of the Resurrection provokes opposition and exposes Peter and the other Apostles to hostility from the High Priests and companions. They get arrested, jailed, and flogged, but Peter does not stop praying, preaching, and doing wonders in Jesus' name. At one point, Peter utters a fundamental declaration of purpose, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). This is the theme for our bulletin article.

Obedience in the Bible is not just about following rules. It is about listening with the heart and responding with trust. So when Peter says, “We must obey God,” he is really saying: “We must listen to God—and follow Him.” I would like to pause a few questions for us:

Does God use a mobile phone to talk to us? Yes or No?
Does God use Television to talk to us? Yes or No?
Maybe I put it in another way:
Does God use Social media: Facebook, TikTok, X, WhatsApp, Messenger, Bluetooth, and other links we spend most of our time on, to communicate with us? Yes or No?

What is true is that God speaks to us through His word in the Holy Bible. 'Ta biblia' (τα βιβλία) is a Koine Greek phrase meaning "the books" or "the scrolls", referring to the collection of sacred books (Scripture) which makes what we know as the Bible (Book of books, containing God’s written word to communicate with us).

The clearest voice of God is Jesus. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. Read, John 1:14; “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” Beautiful statement, right?

“The one whom God sent speaks the words of God.”…To obey God, then, is to center our life on Christ: to follow His teachings, His values, and His direction, even when we do not fully understand. The risen Christ is presented to us not as a distant guardian but as the living voice that summons human beings into true life. Easter Faith is shown to be a matter of discernment: whose voice one follows determines the direction and meaning of one's life.

Beloved brothers and sisters, Jesus is the Good Shepherd: "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11. Obedience to God is not blind—it is a relationship. It is saying: “Lord, I trust You more than I trust myself.”

Yes, sometimes it is difficult to follow God’s will. If we are honest, obedience is not easy. Why? Because there are many other voices competing with God: the voice of the world: “Do what is easy, what is popular”; the voice of fear: “Protect yourself. Avoid sacrifice”; and the voice of pride: “Follow your will, not God’s.” There are ten Commandments of God we know but do not follow. The majority like and follow the one and only commandment of Satan because it seems easy, “Thy shall not suffer!"-If it makes you greater than another, if it is pleasurable, if you enjoy, go for it! Don't care about what happens to others, even if it hurts or destroys other life, Go for it, "Thou shalt not suffer!"

This is not the voice of God!

Remember that in the early church, the apostles were pressured by authorities to stop preaching Jesus message, and today we are also bombarded by many lures to deny Christ and follow men's whims.

The struggle for us may be more subtle: choosing honesty when dishonesty is easier, choosing forgiveness when hurt is deep, or choosing integrity in a culture where corruption exists. Accepting others when division is defended.

Sometimes we know what is right—but we hesitate. We delay. We compromise. Following God often requires sacrifice, humility, and courage. Remember, there is a big reward in listening and obeying

God: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.”

Obedience to God leads to life, not just in the future, but even now. When we follow God, there is peace in our hearts, there is clarity in our decisions, and there is meaning in our sacrifices.

To obey God rather than men is not always the easier path—but it is always the better path. At a time that our world seems confused and opposed to what is good, let us ask God to help us listen more deeply, to give us courage when it is difficult, and to trust that His way always leads to life. The good news is that ”When we follow God, we may lose some things—but we will never lose what truly matters.” Jesus is the full Revelation of God to us. I Love You!

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