Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
“There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered…” (Acts 8:1)
Perhaps it is because in this past year I have seen more good people go through greater tragedies than in the past few years, but this Easter season in particular, the suffering of the Church that is described in Acts stands out to me. Christ unites us to Himself so thoroughly that St. Paul can describe us as members of His very Body. (E.g. 1 Cor 12:12ff) The Risen Christ unites our sufferings to His and transforms them for His glory. One example of this is the first large scale persecution of the Church described in Acts 8. So great is the violence inflicted on the Church in Jerusalem after the martyrdom of Stephen that they cannot stay in that city, but rather seek refuge in any direction away from Jerusalem. Great is their suffering: emotionally from fear; physically from violence and the depravation of food, home and friends that comes from being made a refugee.
And yet, it is precisely in these trials that the Lord unites the early Christians to Himself so that they may bear greater fruit. By being scattered, the earliest preachers (e.g. Philip who goes to Samaria) bring the consolation of the Good News to those who have not yet heard and come to believe in Christ. Because of persecution Philip goes to exorcize and cure the suffering in Samaria. The result? “There was great joy in that city.” (Acts 8:8) It is precisely because they were scattered that the early Christians could help be the fulfillment of the prayer of the Psalmist, “Let all the earth cry out to God with joy!” (Ps 66:1) Today let us ask ourselves, what causes me suffering now in life? Is there anyone to whom this trial is bringing me closer, for whom my suffering is giving me greater compassion? Let us allow Christ to unite our suffering to Himself, and through us offer consolation to those to whom He sends us. Let us bear constantly in mind that it is the will of the Father that not one of those whom He gives to the Son should be lost, but rather that each should be raised. (Jn 6:39)