14 May 2023 6th Sunday of Easter
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
From Acts 8:5-8,14-17, NRSV
The people of Samaria were generally despised by the Jews of the time. The reason for this related to a period in history when the Assyrians had conquered this area of northern Israel, deported most of the Jews from the area and moved in foreign pagans. It was from these roots that the Samaritans came – a people regarded by Law observant Jews as contemptible. Even the apostles had looked down on them. However, Jesus showed a different way of relating to these people and made it clear that God’s love extended to them and that they were a people capable of great compassion. Perhaps it was not surprising that the people of Samaria were so receptive to the teaching of the evangelist Philip. We are told in the early part of this reading that there was “great joy” in the city after they had heard Philip preaching the gospel. Now they were to be offered the gift of the Holy Spirit and so be brought into full communion with the rest of the church. A people who had been considered “non-believers” and lived lives as outcasts, were among the first to become full and equal members of the church.
- Why do you suppose the apostles chose to send Peter and John to Samaria?
- Who are the Samaritans of our own time and who is called to share the gospel with them?
You may like to pray today for all who are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
