REFLECTION:

Yesterday, I shared about our meeting with the school leadership team, and how the idea of clarity of mission really stood out. As I reflect on it more, it seems like this has been a common theme not just in that meeting, but in several conversations I’ve had throughout the week.

In another meeting, I sat down with parents of a student. One thing they shared really stayed with me. Their child had reported an incident—he tried to do the right thing. But what troubled them was that afterward, it seemed like he was corrected and even punished multiple times for that one situation, while the good he did—the courage to speak up—was not acknowledged or affirmed.

It made me think: sometimes, when the mission isn’t clear, even good actions can be misunderstood. But when the mission is clear—when we know what is right and what we are called to do—then not only does courage follow, but we also begin to recognize and affirm courage in others.

That same truth is at the heart of today’s reading from Acts 5:17–26.

The Apostles were arrested and thrown into prison—not for doing something wrong, but for doing something right. They were preaching about Jesus. They were healing. They were giving people hope. And because of that, the authorities felt threatened. But during the night, God sends an angel who opens the prison doors and sets them free.

Now here’s the key moment: The angel doesn’t tell them to run away. He doesn’t tell them to hide. Instead, he says: “Go back… and continue to teach.” And what do the Apostles do? At daybreak, they go right back to the temple—and continue doing exactly what got them arrested in the first place. No hesitation. No fear. Just clarity. Because for them, the mission was clear: proclaim Jesus Christ.

And when the mission is clear… courage follows. They didn’t need to overthink it. They didn’t need a backup plan. They didn’t wait for safer conditions. They simply did what they were called to do.

I think that’s where this reading speaks directly to us.

Sometimes we hesitate—not because we don’t have faith, but because we’re not clear on the mission. We get caught up in questions like: What will people think? What if I fail? What if it’s uncomfortable? But when we are clear about who we are and what we are called to do, those fears begin to lose their power.

As a Church. As a school. As individuals. Our mission is not complicated: To live the Gospel. To witness to Christ. To do what is right—even when it is not easy.

And just as important—like in the situation with that student—we are also called to recognize and affirm courage when we see it, especially in our young people. Because when we affirm what is right, we help form hearts that are confident in doing good again.

The Apostles remind us today: Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the result of clarity.



So maybe the question for us today is simple: Do I know my mission? Because once you do… you’ll find the courage to live it.