Persecution is no obstruction (HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF EASTER APRIL 2023
HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF EASTER Acts 8:1b-8; Ps.66; John 6:35-40 Persecution is no obstruction One who does not love cannot bring others to Christ and Christ to others because witnessing is never without persecution. In today’s first reading, a fierce persecution against the Hellenist Christians took place. The goal of the persecution was to scatter the assembly of believers so that they will no longer speak in the name of Christ. True to the expectation of the persecutors, the believers scattered about as they ran for their lives. But because the Lord has promised victory through the power of his resurrection, their fled did not bring an end to their mission. They fled but planted the gospel in places they found themselves. Thus persecution was turned into cross-pollination. From the earliest times, the Holy Spirit has always turned persecution into manure for evangelization. Dear Christian, you will be persecuted but you can never be defeated. In every age, God looks f...