Almost everything has a visible as well as an invisible, or not so easily visible side.
For example, a tree's visible side is what is above the ground. What can be seen are the branches and leaves, the flowers and the fruits.
But what cannot be seen is what is beneath the ground, which is the roots, and how far they have grown into the ground.
A tree can be judged by its fruits. And its fruits is an indication of the state of its roots.
In the 1st reading, we heard that the early churches grew strong in the faith, as well as growing daily in numbers.
So what is visible are the numbers. And the numbers is an indication of the depth of the faith.
But there is another dimension that must be taken into account and that is the test of time.
Time will tell what is really the state of the faith and whether the numbers will keep growing.
May God grant us perseverance and faith to keep growing and bear fruits for the salvation of others.