It is truly amazing and awesome to see how the resurrection affected the early disciples. Today we see how open Philip was to the promptings of the Spirit. Amid his activities and his ministry, he got up and went down the road to Gaza as directed by the Spirit. He does not know his destination or even why he must go down that road.
Philip has some incredible attitudes. First, we see that his new relationship with the Lord produced in him confidence and willingness to serve the Lord. He listened to the Word of God and followed his God’s initiative or plan – no objections, no complaints, no calls for explanations, no delays. He just got up and went. No hesitation. A lot of us as modern-day Christians are sitting-down folk. We don’t accept the challenge to change, go and move out into the world.
Secondly, we see that while Philip is walking along the road, he knows that he has a mission; he was sent. He uses every opportunity that presents itself to announce the love of the risen Christ. When he gets near the court official, he starts up a conversation about the Word of God.
Thirdly, Philip’s form of evangelization was personal. To evangelize, he starts where he finds the court official and continues their conversation using the Word of God and probably his personal experience. He announces the risen Christ in his life. Philip does not concentrate on morals, doesn’t call the other a terrible sinner, doesn’t center his message and experience on dogma or rules (all that will come later). Philip’s message is so powerful that the court official asks to be baptized.
Philip as an example of the first disciple has given us a tremendous example of Christian life in the risen Lord: a life centered on the Word of God, openness to follow the promptings of the Spirit, and a desire to openly share his faith – evangelize – in a simple, personal way.
The risen Lord has the same message for us today as he did for Philip:
Get up and go down the road
Image: https://standrewscobourg.ca/2018/05/right-place-right-time/