Tuesday of the Third Week of Pascha

Acts 8:5-15 (5/5) Apostle for Tuesday of the Third Week of Pascha Opposition and Growth II ~ Preaching the Word, Acts 8:5-17, especially vss. 4, 5: "Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them." In His providence, God uses all that happens to extend His glory into the darkness of this world's nations, families, hearts, and souls. That is why the Evangelist Luke does not report that those who were scattered went everywhere trying "to hide," despite the fact that their persecutors went after them (Acts 9:1-3). No! Those disciples went "...preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). Hence, Saint Philip's outreach in Samaria (today's and tomorrow's readings) and his meeting with the Ethiopian on the road to Gaza (Thursday's reading) reveal the power of the Risen One to spread light by the Holy Spirit. St. Luke employs "...preached Christ..." (vs. 5) as a code-word for describing how, by God's grace, Philip shared the truth of Christ with words and tangible evidence. There were "...the miracles which he did" (Acts 8: 6), exorcisms and healings (vs. 7), joyful heeding of his message (vss. 6,12), baptisms (vs. 12), and eventually, the gift of the Holy Spirit (vs. 17). "Preaching" of this sort is the true means for doing mission work: by demonstrating the power inherent in "...the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ" (vs.12). This is why, when Peter of Damaskos gave thanks for Christ's saints, he said, "...Thou givest thy servants the power to do even greater things, so that we may be still more astonished...for through Thee Thy saints perform all their miracles." God gave miracles by Philip that people might unite themselves to Christ, the Source of healing (vs. 12). As Metropolitan Hierotheos declares: "Christianity is neither philosophy nor 'natural' religion, but mainly healing." Hence, the goal of Gospel-based ministry always is making persons whole and giving them life - the restoration and renewal of humanity. Consider the Samaritans to whom Saint Philip brought the Gospel: their way of life paralleled many of his values, practices, and assumptions, which gave the Saint common ground for preaching "...Christ to them" (vs. 5). Despite suspicion between Samaritans and Jews (Jn. 4:9; 8:48), they were well-known as "neighbors," with many aspects of ethnicity, culture, and religion in common. They and the Jews mostly shared the same Scriptures, worship, and hopes from God. Similarly, you and your neighbors share much in common. Consider the parallel: for the most part you and your non-Orthodox neighbors use the same the Old and New Testament Scriptures, believe many of the same teachings found in the Creed, have a common culture, and shared many similar values and practices. Like St. Philip, you are the living Orthodox witness whom God has made available to those around you. The final portion of this present reading describes how the Apostles completed the ministry that the Deacon Philip initiated. For "...when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God..." (Acts 8:14), they went down and "...prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit," laying their hands on them (vss. 15-17). Orthodox outreach, principally, is friendship and attraction; yet in the end it must be completed by and within the life of the Church. True evangelism is not individualistic, although it is personal. In the end, the true Faith is Communion in the Holy Mysteries, participation in the Apostles' fellowship and teaching. Without the illuminating, indwelling of the Holy Spirit found in the worship and life of the Church, the healing that begins in Baptism often withers and is lost. I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy: Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness that with a clear mind I may glorify Thee forever. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]