Feast of St Anselm, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

Gamaliel Principle - A Tool for Discernment. 

"A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time, and said to the Sanhedrin, 

“Fellow children of Israel, be careful what you are about to do to these men. Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing. 

"After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.

"So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. 

"For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” 

" They were persuaded by him. After recalling the Apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. 

"So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus.

(Acts 5: 34 - 42).

Friday 21st April 2023, in the 2nd Week of Easter.

Friday 21st April 2023 is the feast of St Anselm (1033 - 1109), Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Anselm became the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England in 1093. A great theologian, God called Anselm to study and teach the sublime truths of His Revelation for which Anselm suffered much including exile. 

Other great Archbishops and Doctors of the Church who suffered exiles are:

Saints Athanasius, and John Chrysostom.

With great power Saint Anselm bore witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Lord recognized this through glorifying Anselm with the cross of suffering and exile.

Those whom the Lord justifies through faith, He glorifies through the Cross. For what purpose? So that they may resemble more closely their elder Brother Jesus.

Rejection of the Cross is rejection of Jesus Christ. When you embrace the Cross, then you can bear great testimony to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gamaliel, the great doctor of the law intervened with wise counsel to save Peter and John from certain death. 

Gamaliel, a teacher of St. Paul enunciated a principle, a word of wisdom to guide the Supreme Court of Israel on how to handle Peter and John.  Below is the counsel of Gamaliel:

"So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

They were persuaded by him." (Acts 5: 38 - 39).

The Gamaliel Principle is a great tool for Discernment of Spirits. 

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