Last week in Mass, we hear how the Sanhedrin was enraged at the Apostles and wanted to put them to death. But then Gamaliel, a Pharisee and respected teacher of the law, stood up and offered this counsel:
“So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. 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.”
—Acts 5:38–39
Bishop Barron calls this Gamaliel’s Principle—a spiritual wisdom that reminds us not every situation demands immediate action. Sometimes, the holiest and most faithful thing we can do is... wait.
That’s hard for many of us. We’re wired to fix things, to resolve tension, to jump in and take control. We want to make the decision, win the argument, settle the matter.
And yes, there are times we must act with courage and conviction. But there are also times when the best response is patient trust. Not yes. Not no. Just wait.
This is the virtue of prudence—discerning not only what to do, but when and how. It's the wisdom to recognize that if something is truly of God, it will endure. And if it’s not, it will fade away on its own.
Waiting isn’t passivity. It’s active faith. It’s stepping back and giving God room to work.