My dear friends, today’s readings give us immense comfort when we are going through times of upheaval and change. Life rarely goes exactly a...
My dear friends, today’s readings give us immense comfort when we are going through times of upheaval and change. Life rarely goes exactly as we plan, and sometimes it feels like everything we built is falling apart. To see the grace in these moments, let us reflect on three words: Scattered, Seed, and Security.
Our first word is Scattered. The first reading begins on a very dark note. Following the murder of Stephen, a severe persecution breaks out. Imagine the terror of the early Christians. They were dragged out of their homes and thrown into prison. The community they loved in Jerusalem was abruptly ripped apart, and they were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. When we lose a job unexpectedly, when a loved one passes away, or when a relationship shatters, we also feel scattered. Our comfortable routines are destroyed, and we feel like we have been thrown into the wind.
But God has a different perspective, leading us to our second word: Seed. When a farmer wants to grow a crop, he doesn't keep all the seeds huddled together in a safe bag in his house. He has to scatter them in the dirt. What felt like a terrifying scattering to the early Christians was actually God planting seeds. Because they were scattered, Philip ended up in Samaria—a place Jews usually avoided. He preached the Gospel, people were healed, and the scriptures say, "There was great joy in that city." The persecution did not destroy the Church; it multiplied it. Often, the very events that break us out of our comfort zones are the exact vehicles God uses to bring our gifts to a place that desperately needs them.
Knowing this gives us our final word: Security. While the world scatters us, Jesus provides an anchor. In our Gospel today, Jesus makes one of the most comforting promises in the entire Bible: "I will not reject anyone who comes to me... and I should lose nothing of all that he gave me." No matter where the winds of life blow you, if you are holding onto the Bread of Life, your ultimate security is guaranteed. You belong to Christ, and He will raise you up on the last day.
Brothers and sisters, if you feel scattered today by worries or changes, do not despair. You are not being blown away; you are being planted. Trust in the unshakable Security of Christ’s love, and prepare for the joy that He will grow through you. Amen.
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