Divine Providence

Acts 6:7 (taken from the First Reading of May 3, 2026) “Even a LARGE GROUP OF PRIESTS were becoming obedient to the faith.”

Why is this important? These were not ordinary converts. They were PRIESTS—formed by the LAW, by SACRIFICE, by the traditions of the Book of LEVITICUS.

And yet… THEY BELIEVED in CHRIST. This is not accidental. This is DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

God was already preparing them—through everything they had lived. What was hidden before…is now revealed.

PART 1: GOD REVEALS GRADUALLY (DV 2–4)

God does not reveal everything at once. According to Dei Verbum, God, in His goodness and wisdom, chose to reveal Himself STEP by STEP.

THEN:

• Through creation
• Through covenants
• Through the Law and the prophets
• Through priesthood and sacrifice

Everything was real, but also preparatory.

NOW:

• God speaks fully in Jesus Christ
• Not just words—but the Word made flesh

This is the pattern: Not replacement… but fulfillment.

PART 2: PRIESTHOOD AS DIVINE PREPARATION

THEN (Old Covenant):

• Priests offered repeated sacrifices
• Animals were offered for sin
• Rituals were external but meaningful

These were not empty. They were God-designed rituals pointing forward.

NOW (New Covenant):

• Christ is the one eternal High Priest
• One perfect sacrifice—once and for all
• Made present in the Mass

So when Acts of the Apostles 6:7 says: “priests became obedient to the faith”— It means they recognized: What they were doing before, has now reached its fulfillment in Christ.

PART 3: SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION (DV 9–10)

Dei Verbum teaches something very important: God’s Word is handed on in two ways:

THEN:

• Oral tradition (passed down)
• Written Scripture

NOW:

• Sacred Scripture
• Sacred Tradition
• Interpreted by the Church’s Magisterium.

This explains why THOSE PRIESTS could believe—they were not abandoning “The WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE” (Jn. 14:6). They were in fact, entering into its FULLNESS.

PART 4: FROM SHADOW TO REALITY

This is where typology becomes clear.

THEN:

• Temple
• Priesthood
• Sacrifices
• Ritual purity

All were shadows… signs… types.

NOW:

• Christ is the true Temple
• Christ is the High Priest
• Christ is the Sacrifice

And through Him:

• The Church continues His work
• The Sacraments make His grace present

“For we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1Pt. 2:9).

Stay rooted in the WORD…because the WORD is ALIVE!