the vocation in all locations
"Philip, for example, went down to the town of Samaria and there proclaimed the Messiah." —Acts 8:5
Philip, the deacon, was a witness for the risen Jesus no matter where he was. He witnessed in Jerusalem and even in Samaria. Philip witnessed to Simon the Magician (Acts 8:13), the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35), and his four daughters who became prophetesses (Acts 21:8-9). He witnessed at home, in Jerusalem, in Samaria, and then in the Ethiopian's chariot on "the road which goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route" (Acts 8:26). Then the Spirit "snatched Philip away" (Acts 8:39). "Philip found himself at Azotus next, and he went about announcing the good news in all the towns until he reached Caesarea" (Acts 8:40).
Because Philip began as a family man to witness to his family, he was led in stages to witness to the ends of the earth by the effects of the Ethiopian's conversion. Philip exemplified the last words of Jesus before His Ascension: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you; then you are to be My witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, yes, even to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
Do you witness for the risen Jesus everywhere, especially beginning at home? Do you freely break the unwritten rules against witnessing for Jesus at work, at school, even in some homes, and in countless other places in our secular humanistic culture of death? Where are the places in your life where you are most strongly tempted to join in the exclusion of Jesus? By the power of the Holy Spirit, be like Philip. May you never let your location stop you from living your vocation to witness for the risen Jesus.
Prayer: Father, fill me with love for Jesus. May I always speak from the abundance of that love (Lk 6:45).
Promise: "No one who comes will I ever reject." —Jn 6:37
Praise: St. Catherine was the 23rd child in her family. The Lord had special plans for her. She greatly influenced public affairs and had a profound impact on the papacy in her time.
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, September 24, 2020
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