Word to the Wise
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 - 4th Week of Easter - Tues
[Acts 11:19-26 and John 10:22-30]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......[And] sit was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. [Acts]
The Acts of the Apostles is widely considered to be the second volume of the Gospel According to Luke because it is attributed to him. [Acts 1:1-2] It is basically the story of the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to the rest of the Roman Empire. But it is also, in a sense, the story of the spread of the gospel beyond and to the present day. How did Christian faith get as far as where you and I are living? It was through preaching first and foremost! Word of mouth and pen!
Ironically, the efforts of Jewish and Roman authorities to suppress the preaching of the apostles and other disciples in Jerusalem that led to the spread of the faith!! The disciples fled the persecution and headed for other places for safety. These other places included people who were not Jews - "Greeks." In a move that would have far reaching consequences, Barnabus recalled a certain recent convert named Saul and went to find him, making a living in his hometown as a tentmaker. That tentmaker - former Pharisee and bounty hunter - would spread the faith all over the Mediterranean world in his mission trips. Again, all of this was accomplished through preaching - through word of mouth and through letters to new communities.
The popular notion of preaching as a pulpit-in-a-church-by-a-priest-or-deacon is unfortunate. It is also counterproductive. All Christians are called by baptism to be preachers and the internet has made this possible by just about anyone. The role of the Pope and bishops is to make sure the preaching is "on message." Each of us can begin with a few friends and see our efforts grow, as I have since August 2003. We don't have to wait for persecution to start preaching! Although martyrdom still occurs and courageous preachers suffer in places like Nicaragua or China, it is not likely for most of us. Fear is the enemy of the gospel. St. Dominic founded the Order of Preachers, but we are not a monopoly!! AMEN