10/05/2022

The reading from the Acts is a summing up of how the Infant Church was growing; not only in numbers but also in teaching. The first nucleus had been dispersed by the attacks of the Temple.They had escaped to cities that were not predominately Jewish and had aroused the interest of Greeks, Egyptians and Phoenicians.  The universality of Christ's message  had became apparent and the Risen Lord was proclaimed also to the pagans. Antioch in Syria was to become a great Church and the first seat of St Peter before he went to Rome.

These events of the first century were to become the great shift in the history of mankind. The obscure wandering preacher from despised Galilee was indeed one with God. The story of his resurrection, spread by mouth through the lowly people of the Roman world and beyond, shook mankind to its very roots.

It was Jews who challenged Jesus in the Temple and Pilate who at Jesus' trial retorted on behalf of all Gentiles, "Am I a Jew?". In less than fifty years that huge divide had ceased to have any doctrinal significance as we all became "Christians". The teaching of the Evangelits and St Paul, the teaching that inspired both Jews and Pagans has been the same for 2000 years but the Modern World is proving to be greater than earlier times, at promulgating sin and challenging Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord let your will be done in our world. Let the Holy Spirit inspire resistance to all false guidance as to how to live our lives and let the words of Jesus regain the force that they had in the first days of the Church. Your Mother and so many Saints know the truth; let the example of their lives support us as  we face the hostility of Satan the pain of disease and the perceived lack of holiness in your Church.