Pentecost marked the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit. Fifty days after Easter, the apostles were gathered in prayer when suddenly, like a driving wind, the Spirit descended upon them. Tongues of fire appeared and rested on each one. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they began proclaiming the mighty works of God in languages understood by people from every nation. What began in an upper room burst out into the streets. The Church was born—not in silence, but in power, praise, and mission.
The first reading this weekend from the Acts of the Apostles presents the martyrdom of St. Stephen, the Church’s first witness unto death. As he was being stoned by an enraged crowd, Stephen—filled with the Holy Spirit—lifted his eyes to heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. In his final breath, he echoed Jesus’s own words from the cross: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Among those witnessing this was a young man named Saul—who would later become Paul, the great Apostle to the Gentiles. This moment marked not just Stephen’s death, but the beginning of a Church willing to love to the point of sacrifice.
A major controversy erupted in the early Church: must Gentile converts follow the Mosaic law, including circumcision, to be saved? Paul and Barnabas debated the issue and were sent to Jerusalem to seek clarity. What followed was the first great council of the Church—the apostles and elders gathering to listen, pray, discern, and decide together. Guided by the Holy Spirit, they sent a letter back to the Gentile churches, affirming freedom from the Mosaic law while asking for a few necessary practices for unity. The message was clear: this is not a human decision alone- “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us.”
After evangelizing in Derbe and making many new disciples, Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps through cities where they had faced opposition. They returned not to avoid danger but to strengthen the fledgling churches. They encouraged the believers to endure hardships and remain steadfast in faith. In each community, they appointed leaders, prayed, fasted, and entrusted them to the Lord. Finally, they returned to Antioch to report what God had done, especially how He opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. The Church was growing- not just in numbers but in faith, structure, and mission.
In Antioch of Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas preached boldly in the synagogue. Many listeners were drawn to their message, but opposition quickly arose from some Jewish leaders. Undeterred, the apostles responded with prophetic clarity: the Gospel was first offered to the Jews, but now, since they rejected it, the Good News would go to the Gentiles. Paul quoted Isaiah’s prophecy, revealing their divine commission—to be “a light to the Gentiles.” The Gentiles rejoiced, the Word spread, but persecution intensified. The apostles, shaking the dust from their feet, left the city. And what remained? A community “filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.”
Peter and the apostles had been arrested again. The Sanhedrin, the powerful religious council of Jerusalem, was outraged: “We gave you strict orders to stop teaching in that name.” But the apostles would not be silenced. Peter responded with courage and clarity: “We must obey God rather than men.” He proclaimed Jesus—the one they crucified, whom God has now exalted as “leader and savior.” Though threatened and dishonored, the apostles left rejoicing that they were found worthy to suffer for the Name. This is a moment of defiant faith and holy joy in the face of persecution.
In this Sunday’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we see that healing and unity are not side-effects—they are essential marks of a Church alive in the Spirit. The apostles were united in mission, the people were united in faith, and Christ’s mercy overflowed into their lives.
Today we begin an eight-week journey through the Acts of the Apostles. Together, we will rediscover what Bishop Ruggieri calls the “original fire” of the Church—a community alive in the Spirit, nourished by the Eucharist, united in love, bold in mission, and joyful in witness. Each week, through the lens of Acts and the reflections of Pope Francis—especially his Catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles and Evangelii Gaudium—we will ask: “What does the early Church have to teach our parish today?” And “how can we reclaim Sunday as the launchpad for discipleship and mission?”