Apostles Creed
There are two forms of the Creed that we use, and you would have often heard them recited at Mass. One is the Nicene form, a revised version, and the other, the Apostles Creed, an earlier form.
This week we will explore the Apostles Creed. It is called the Apostles Creed because it is considered to be a faithful summary of the Apostles Faith. This was the teaching the Apostles preached.
Pentecost:
After the crucifixion of Jesus, the Apostles were terrified and confused. The man they had given up everything to follow, the one who they thought to be the Messiah, they had seen dead, nailed to a cross.
They were terrified because they were sure that the Romans were looking for them to do the same. So they hid themselves away in a room trying to work out what had happened.
Then the Risen Jesus came to them and told them not to be afraid and that He would send the Holy Spirit to them, and they would understand.
When they received the Holy Spirit, they completely changed and were no longer afraid. They went out into the streets and proclaimed all about Jesus and that he was Risen. This is the birth of our Creed and the Church.
Preaching:
The Apostles went everywhere with no fear telling the people about Jesus. Those who listened and believed were Baptiste and received the Holy Spirit.
This changed they way they lived their life. How they treated their children, the elderly, how they behaved with others. How they loved one and other.
Persecution::
The Christians came to the attention of the Roman authorities. Because the way the Christians lived was very different form the others in society.
They were pacifist, they believed in forgiveness, they shared what they had with others. But the main difference was that they are monotheistic, the Christians believed in one God and that Jesus is his Son.
The Romans and the people around were polytheistic, they believed in many gods. With the emperor as the supreme. The Romans did not mind the people believing in other gods, but they had to recognise that the emperor was the main god.
The Christians would not deny God as the one true God, and this concerned the Romans. It threatens the way they ruled the people and how they ran their society. In their view this new religion had to be stamped out and the Christians were treated as enemies and hunted down and killed.
Growth of the Church:
This sign of love and unity was so strong that soon many other wanted to become members. People were attracted to the teaching of the Apostles because they could see that what they preached was true and that the Holy Spirit could give them a change of heart.
Those who had been baptized like the Apostles went out to spread the teaching that Jesus had given them and the Church began to spread everywhere.
