A Thought Triggered by Today's First Reading

Today's assigned first reading comes from the Acts of the Apostles (8:1-8), and it covers the period immediately after the martyrdom of Stephen (the Church's first martyr):

"There broke out a severe persecution of the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him. Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment. Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Thus Philip went down to (the) city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city."

This scattering of many early Church members throughout Judea and Samaria led to the spread of the Church. No longer concentrated in Jerusalem, it has now begun making itsway throughout the world. It is a reminder how tragic events often lead to good consequences, of how God works through evil or through difficult circumstances to accomplish His purposes.