Why did they not stop after being severely persecuted? Why did they continue preaching the good news even after having escaped?
His disciples believed wholeheartedly that Jesus was the way, the truth and the bread of life! In this life or the next, He is with them. And will be for eternity. How then, can any disciple of His keep this joyful News of the Gospel to themselves.
Instead we should go onward like Philip demonstrating the living word of Christ as we deliver from evil, heal and restore the broken. Ministering to the least of our brethren in His love. Ahem Alleluia
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First reading
Acts 8:1-8
They went from place to place, preaching the Good News
That day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles fled to the country districts of Judaea and Samaria.
There were some devout people, however, who buried Stephen and made great mourning for him.
Saul then worked for the total destruction of the Church; he went from house to house arresting both men and women and sending them to prison.
Those who had escaped went from place toplace preaching the Good News. One of them was Philip who went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them. The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves. There were, for example, unclean spirits that came shrieking out of many who were possessed, and several paralytics and cripples were cured. As a result there was great rejoicing in that town.
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Gospel
John 6:35-40
It is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son should have eternal life
Jesus said to the crowd:
‘I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me will never be hungry;
he who believes in me will never thirst.
But, as I have told you, you can see me and still you do not believe.
All that the Father gives me will come to me,
and whoever comes to me I shall not turn him away; because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of the one who sent me.
Now the will of him who sent me is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day.
Yes, it is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life,
and that I shall raise him up on the last day.’
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