***
Acts: 11: 19-26
Those who had been scattered by the persecution
that arose because of Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus.
The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.
The Word of the Lord.
***
***
Our first reading describes one of the most important events in human history.
Without a careful ear, we’d miss it.
***
The death of Saint Stephen, the first known Christian martyr, caused many Christians to flee Jerusalem. While they left much behind, one thing they did bring was their faith.
As it’s written, “Some of them came to Antioch and spoke to the Greeks and told them the good news of the Lord Jesus.”
This is the moment when the Gospel is first shared with the Gentiles.
Until now, all Christians were converts from Judaism. They either encountered the Risen Christ himself or came to understand Jesus as the fulfillment of the Jewish scriptures through the teaching of the Apostles.
Knowledge of scripture provided them with a strong foundation.
All of a sudden, Christians started evangelizing the Greeks, who had not known the God of Israel. Leading them to Jesus demanded courage and creativity as they convinced some that he was, in fact, LORD.
These early Christians – many poor and illiterate – started a movement that changed the world…and we don’t even know their names.
***
Perhaps there’s a point in that for us today.
These early Christians remind us that spreading the Gospel is possible; that the Church in America can prosper; that non-believers can come to faith.
Most of that work is done by ordinary people like us who bear witness to the Gospel through personal witness.
What we need to be effective are the gifts of the Holy Spirit: courage, creativity, wisdom, and an openness to dialoging with people of different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs.
For us, we pray: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.”
***
***
Image credits: (1) English Plus Podcast (2) Blue Ridge Christian News, WordPress (3) The Salt Stories