Readings: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 66; John 6:44-51
In the first reading of today, we see what it means to be led by the Holy Spirit.
Philip had a successful ministry in Samaria but God called him to leave the place to go to a desert. To leave a fruitful ministry and go to a desert does not make sense from man’s perspective but it is wise if directed by God. Philip did not argue with the Lord, he simply obeyed.
In the desert was an Ethiopian proselyte to Judaism returning from Jerusalem and reading the bible. He was a noble man on a noble search. A man of great authority who had charge of all the treasury of the queen of Ethiopia. A successful man yet his success did not answer all his questions in life, he was seeking for truth, direction, understanding and meaning.
This man was also led by the Spirit to read the Word of God and that particular text of Isaiah. The meaning and truth we search for in life is in the Word of God if we understand the meaning of the Scriptures.
The Spirit ministered to Philip to speak to this wealthy, powerful and successful man, I tell you, this takes boldness. It is like the Spirit leading you to talk to your manager at work about Jesus, to pray for a patient that you don’t know his faith background, to invite your neighbour to the Church, to share your testimony of faith with an unfamiliar client, to encourage a stranger or a distressed colleague with wisdom from the Word of God.
Philip boldly approached this man because it was at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The Lord who instructed Philip had already opened the door.
It is good for us to always pray for the conversion of non-believers but as we pray we ought to also keep alert to the opportunities that God presents.
Philip preached Jesus to this powerful man. The Lord opened his ears and heart, he accepted the message, he was baptised, Philip was taken away immediately to another place, this man went away rejoicing, he has found something more important than all the treasures of Ethiopia. He went back to Ethiopia with the greatest treasure-, which is faith in Jesus Christ. The Coptic Christians trace their spiritual heritage back to this Ethiopian official.
In the gospel, Jesus continues his teaching on the bread of life, he explains that no one can come to him or accept his teaching unless drawn by the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.
We pray today to be attentive to the Holy Spirit and to be able to respond as he leads us to discover God’s wonderful truth and His plans for our lives.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okami on April 30, 2020.