RELIGION AND ART

 That day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles fled to the country districts of Judea and Samaria. There were some devout people, however, who buried Stephen and made great mourning for him. Saul then worked for the total destruction of the Church; he went from house to house arresting both men and women and sending them to prison. Those who escaped went from place to place preaching the Good News. One of them was Philip who went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed Christ to them.  The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached ..................... As a result there was great rejoicing in that town Readings Seeking Heaven Alone from Catholic Hymn Book Thought of the Day

Stephen said to the people, the elders and the scribes. 'You stubborn people, with your pagan hearts and pagan ears.  You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Can you name a single prophet your ancestors never persecuted?  In the past they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, and now you have become his betrayers, his murderers. You had the Law brought to you by angels are the very ones who have not kept it.' Readings Psalm  27 Thoughts for the Day

Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. But then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia. They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. Readings Thought for the Day Beautiful Saviour Catholic Hymn Book Lord Jesus help me appreciate the gifts of my fellow being and give me the spirit of gratitude for my many gifts from God.  May I hunger for your word.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to guide, guard and direct me.

The high priest demanded an explanation of apostles. 'We gave you a formal warning' he said 'not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man's death on us. 'In reply Peter and the apostles said, 'Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and Savior, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel.  We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.' and they had the apostles called in, gave orders for them to be flogged, warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them, And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the  honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name  Readings Homil