The refusal of Peter and John to stop proclaiming what they had seen and heard despite pressure being put on them indicates the strength of their commitment towards Jesus in whom they believed and trusted. After all, as our Gospel reading tells us, it was the Risen Jesus Himself who gave them the mandate to go out and proclaim the Good News to all creation. Thus, nothing and no one was allowed to come between them and their task of evangelization.

If only we could say that we too were so committed ... yet, more often than not, we bow down to pressure and fail to really live out in action what we claim to believe in. Governmental and societal pressures render us timid, passive and even apathetic. The fear of what the neighbours might think prevents us from being "fools for Christ".

Nevertheless, we can take courage in this, that the apostles were not always such brave creatures. After all, Peter's denial of Christ still lingers on in our minds.

What changed them however was a growing trust and dependence in the Risen Lord, strengthened by their Pentecost experience of the Spirit's descent upon them. We too have experienced the Risen Lord and have received the Spirit in Baptism. Let us therefore strive to truly live out our baptismal call to be true and faithful witnesses of Christ willing to stand up and be counted.