In
today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about the increased
persecutions of the followers of Jesus that occurred in Jerusalem after Stephen
was stoned to death. Martyrdom was a common reality in Early Church, and the
witness that martyrs gave to those early Christians became an important and
revered part of the faith.
Stephen’s death is very well-documented in the Bible, as he was the first
martyr of the early Church immediately following Christ’s resurrection. Yet,
we’re reminded that this era of increased persecution led to even greater
evangelization and an increase in conversions to the way of Jesus. In
the midst of these persecutions, Philip goes to Samaria where he performs
miracles of healing and exorcisms to the cries of great joy in that city. There
are times where we can feel out of place or downcast for the values of our
faith that we try to live out in the midst of adversity. Yet,
through the hardships we endure and through the words that are spoken against
us, we’re called to joyfully proclaim Christ’s Good News to our world, no
matter what the cost is to us.
May
we give thanks today during this joyful Easter season for the examples of faith
we have in the followers of Christ in the early Church, in men such as Stephen
and Philip who worked tirelessly in living out the Gospel message and spreading
it to others. To someone like Stephen, being true to the Gospel
was the most important thing in his life, even if it meant his death. May
we discern our vocation and our role in living out this message of Good News,
in spreading God's word to others.
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