St. Luke tells the story of the spread of Christianity as a series of widening circles. From the initial followers of Jesus who were all Palestinian Jews the “Hellenists” were added — Greek-speaking Jews. Then the message spread to the Samaritans, looked down upon as kind of renegade Jews. Then the newly minted deacon Philip preacheed the gospel to an African official, apparently part of the Jewish diaspora since he had come to Jerusalem “to worship.” In addition he was a eunuch and thus looked upon as someone unclean in the law. But the gospel was meant for all of them. When St. Paul appears the message “goes out to all the earth.” We must be intent on widening our circle in embracing divine love.
MAY42017
By Church Staff
