Axe of the Apostles

 

Appreciating the work of the Spirit in modern apostles

05-18-2026

Acts 19:1-8 While Apollos was in Corinth,Paul traveled through the interior of the country and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” He said, “How were you baptized?” They replied, “With the baptism of John.” Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Altogether there were about twelve men. He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God.

During the pandemic back in 2020 everyone had a lot of time on their hands, especially priests. And everyone was working from home, which meant most people were not working. I decided to record some Bible studies and post them on the church website in case people wanted to read the Bible instead of work.

One 10-part study was on the Acts of the Apostles with the cheeky title “Axe of the Apostles” – spelled “a-x-e.” If you step back and survey the whole book of Acts, it is roughly divisible into two halves, the first focusing on St. Peter, and the second centering on St. Paul. In a sense, Peter and Paul are the two major “axes” that the Holy Spirit used to clear the world of the pagan forest so he could then build up his kingdom on earth.

Chapters 1-12 (or 15, the Council of Jerusalem) Peter is the most prominent, and from 12 (or 15) – 28 St. Paul runs the show. In other words, the Acts of the Apostles is not so much about the exploits of all 12 apostles but more narrowly about two, the pillars of the primitive Church, Sts. Peter and Paul. And we see the successors of these two pillars, the pope and our bishop continue to wield the axe to clear the world and our diocese of old paganisms and new threats to the kingdom of God.

The reason we should attentively study the original Acts of the Apostles (Peter and Paul) is so we can understand the current acts of the apostles (the pope and our bishop). Our first reading this morning is taken from Acts 19:1-8, which now you know is part of the second half of the book dealing with St. Paul, a bishop.

And St. Luke, the human author, describes how it belongs to the bishop’s office to confer the gifts of the Holy Spirit, just like our bishop comes annually to our parish for Confirmation and giving the Spirit to young Catholics. We read: “And when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.”

Can you catch how the Holy Spirit continues to wield the axe of modern day apostles, meaning bishops, to clear the world of the forests of faithlessness and futility? And just like during the primitive Church the real forests of lack of faith are not outside somewhere else in the world, but inside each human heart, where there grow the dense and crowded trees of doubt, depressions, rivalries, ambition, laziness, lust, and so forth.

Let me share a recent experience where I felt the sharp edge of the axe of the apostles today. Last week I received an email from a man named Anthony who asked if we would offer the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM for short) here at I.C. He wrote: “You would be surprised how many young people with families would fill the pews of Immaculate Conception Church. The new high altar that was recently installed would be ideal for the TLM. Latin would unite all people of different races and creeds.”

Now, how would you reply to such a request? I remembered the axe of the apostles, Peter and Paul yesterday, and pope and bishop today, and responded like this: “The traditional Latin Mass is indeed very beautiful and inspires many Catholics, and notably the younger generation.” By the way, can you hear the big but coming? People used to compliment Msgr. Hebert by saying: “He could tell you you’re going to hell in such a way you would look forward to the ride.” It’s a shame he never became an axe of the apostles.

I continued, “However, the bishop has made it clear, following the direction of Traditionis Custodes (the pope’s directive limiting where the TLB may be celebrated), that diocesan priests are not permitted to celebrate the TLM in our parish.” Then I added: “Consequently, anyone wishing to attend the TLM must make the trip to either Our Lady of Sorrows in Lowell, or to St. John the Baptist in Cabot.” Now, do you think Anthony enjoyed the ride?

What’s my point this morning? It’s basically this: the fifth book of the New Testament does not merely have a historical value, what happened in the early Church after Jesus ascended and the Holy Spirit descended. It is certainly valuable for that. But it also contains a profoundly practical value for us today.

We see the Holy Spirit wielding the axe of the apostles with great effect today as he continues to clear the forest of foolishness and plant the seeds of faith. In case you have too much time on your hands – maybe because you’re working from home – reread the Acts of the Apostles and see if you can feel its sharp edge.

Praised be Jesus Christ!