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As a professional evangelist, I really like the stories in Acts of the Apostles. I usually take from their example how to tell the Great Story of Jesus, how to boldly take a stand for the Gospel in the face of disinterest and persecution, how to love Jesus above everything else. In reading today’s story of Apollos though I was struck by something new.
Apollos was open to correction. I think there’s a big temptation to pride in “professional Catholicism.” It can be easy for us to think that we’re a cut above the rest. “I take my faith so seriously that it’s my job so I obviously know everything that there is to know.” I’m sure there are ways that “non-professional” Catholics fall into this kind of pride as well.
But Apollos was open to the correction of Priscilla and Aquilla. He was a zealous, holy, and well-formed man, but he didn’t know the whole story.
“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way of God more accurately.”
What if Apollos scoffed them off and didn’t listen to what they had to say? He would have been teaching a partial truth. His pride would have been his downfall and his preaching would have been doing a disservice to those who listened. For myself at least, I know I have a tendency to become overly attached to the truth that I understand it. It’s hard for me to listen to others, especially if I don’t know them very well and don’t trust them. There’s some goodness to being wary of people before you blindly accept what they have to say, but to blindly reject correction is a rotten fruit of pride.
If we aren’t willing to engage in conversations to seek understanding, how much more will we avoid conversation oriented towards personal change? What if your friend points out some way that you need to grow? Points out some sin that you might be blind to? This act of charity on their part could honestly save our eternal lives, but we must be disposed to receive it. Apollos offers us a great example of humility in the face of correction. An example which I desperately need.
Today I challenge you to look up the Litany of Humility. You can find it at the link below. Pray it slowly and carefully and let the Holy Spirit penetrate your hardness of heart so that you might become more like Christ as your pride lessens.
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-of-humility-245
-Amanda Nobis, Director of Evangelization