The disciples in today’s First Reading were dispersed, but not defeated. They were making a name for themselves in places they would have never imagine sharing the Good News, the name of “Christians” for the first time. If it hadn’t been for the persecution and difficulties among their own people of their own culture maybe the Gospel would have never reached other peoples, other cultures. Every Christian echos the voice of Christ, and, as he described in today’s Gospel, his sheep hear his voice, and hearing is voice is necessary for belief. We help people to hear his voice.
The thought of breaking out of your cultural group to share the Good News may seem intimidating, but the “hand of the Lord” will be with you too: he is preparing people to hear his voice through you. The greatest enemy of Christianity is complacency, especially considering how many people in the world still haven’t heard the Gospel and how many Christians are suffering persecution for simply being Christian. It may be logical, when under attack, to dig in, consolidate, avoid exposure and risks, but Christians throughout history, including those in today’s First Reading, show that this tactic does not come from the Christian play book.
Share your faith today without fear; the hand of the Lord is with you.
Readings: Acts 11:19–26; Psalm 87:1b–7; John 10:22–30. See also 4th Week of Easter, Tuesday.