Tuesday 2 May, 2023 | Fourth Week of Easter |Readings: 1 Acts 11:19-26; Psalm 86 (87); John 10:22-30 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here)
Over 360 million Christians suffer persecution and discrimination in the world today according to the organisation Open Doors. Open Doors originated in 1995 when a young Dutchman, who became known as Brother Andrew, started to smuggle Bibles to the persecuted Church in Communist Europe. More than sixty years later, Open Doors supports persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries and who live in the shadow of persecution and death.
In the Acts of the Apostles, we read how those early Christians were persecuted, displacing many people far and wide. Even though they were dispersed in danger, with the death of Stephen fresh in their minds, they continued to share the gospel of Christ. Some of them travelled as far as Phoenecia and Cyprus and Antioch. Whilst most of them only proclaimed the message amongst people of the Jewish faith, some who had come from a Greek background started sharing the good news with the Greeks. Ironically, persecution of their faith meant that the same faith began to reach other parts of the world, and it was whilst in Antioch, where Saul spent a whole year, that the followers of Jesus became known as Christians.
Even when we are faced with difficulties and obstacles, and when things seem stacked against us, God continues to work his purpose out. For those first Christians, the threat of persecution, danger and death meant that the good news of Jesus was taken far and wide. So, too, in our own lives – when our plans in life become unravelled or all is not as we wish it to be – we can continue to trust in God who is faithful. ‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me,’ said Jesus. He is the Good Shepherd who leads us to pastures green and flowing waters even if, to get there, we travel through the darkest valley. No evil should we fear, for he is there, leading and guiding us .
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Mass today (Tuesday 2 May, 2023) is celebrated at St Saviour’s Church, Splott at 10am and St Mary’s Church, Butetown at 7pm | If you would like to send a prayer request then click on the ‘REQUEST PRAYER’ Button. You can discover more about Worship across the Ministry Area on our Worship page
South Cardiff Ministry Area 