The first readings this week at Mass from the Acts of the Apostles tell the story of the Greek-speaking deacon Stephen. His fiery preaching against temple worship and “stiff-necked” Jewish opposition to Jesus led to his death and a persecution that drove Greek-speaking Jewish Christians out of Jerusalem. (Monday and Tuesday) But Stephen’s death, like the death of Jesus, brings new life. The church grows. “The death of Christians is the seed of Christianity.” (Tertullian )

Philip the Deacon preaches to the Samaritans north of Jerusalem. Then, led by the Spirit, he converts the Ethiopian eunuch returning home after his pilgrimage to Jerusalem. (Wednesday and Thursday} Following Philip’s activity, Paul, the persecutor, is converted by Jesus himself. (Friday)

Before Paul’s ministry begins, Peter leaves Jerusalem to bless the new Christian communities near the coast; at Joppa he’s told by God to meet the Roman centurion in Caesarea Maritima. The mission to the gentile world begins with that meeting. (Saturday)

The Holy Spirit is at work. in this section of the Acts of the Apostles we see a changing church. The center of the Christian community moves from Jerusalem to Antioch in Syria. The Galilean apostles like Peter, James and John are joined by Stephen, Philip, Barnabas, and Paul, as God’s mysterious plan unfolds. Christian communities leave the Jewish synagogues to become churches on their own, led by bishops, elders, deacons. Christians are no longer only Jews, gentiles from different parts of the Roman world become followers of Jesus.

The Acts of the Apostles reveal a developing, changing church. Change, of course, is not limited to the early church: the church changes and develops in every age. It’s changing and developing now. 

The gospel readings this week, from St.John’s gospel– segments of Jesus’ long discourse on the Bread of Life to the crowd at Capernaum after the miracle of the loaves. (John 6) tell us that the Risen Christ remains with us Teacher and Lord in the Eucharist. He is with us in the times we live in.

Readings here.

Morning and Evening Prayer, 3rd week, here.