Homily: April 17, 2026, Friday of the second week of Easter (Gamliel)

 “Fellow children of Israel, be careful what you are about to do to these men.”

These are the words of Gamaliel in today’s first reading.

Gamaliel was a Pharisee, a highly respected teacher of the law. People listened to him because his words carried wisdom and authority. He was also the teacher of Saul who later became Paul the Apostle.

In today’s reading, we see that his logic was simple but profound: “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.”

And so too, his advice was simple but wise: Be careful. Think. Do not act in haste.

I often wonder, “Where was Gamaliel when Jesus was being condemned?”

If he was present at the Sanhedrin, could Jesus be spared the death sentence like the Apostles?

In any case, from today’s reading, we can conclude that Gamaliel was indeed a man of justice, a man of prudence, a man of wisdom, and a man of God. He did not make decisions out of fear, nor to protect self interest but was respectful of God’s will.

There are early traditions and writings that suggest Gamaliel had later become a Christ follower. And in Christian art, he is sometimes shown together with Nicodemus, mourning and honoring the early martyrs.

Like Nicodemus, Gamaliel risked his reputation and position by openly opposing the actions of the other Jewish leaders who wanted to put the Apostles to death. But he did it with logical and persuasive reasoning.

Do we also use our gifts of reasoning and power of persuasion to accomplish greater things for God?

In today’s Gospel, Andrew brought five loaves and two fish offered by a boy. The quantity seemed too little compared to the crowd, too insignificant to achieve anything. And yet, in the hands of Jesus, it became big, it became great, it was more than enough for everyone.

He can take even our smallest act, our insignificant gift, our dull talent, and turn it into something great for God.

So let us never deny Jesus in using whatever we have, let us offer Him everything, even the simplest, most humble gift of ourselves.

And trust that God, who is a God of abundance,

will transform it to something great and purposeful for His Kingdom.

Amen.