SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLE #13 - April 28th, 2023 by Fr. Ben Daghir

[Pompeii]

One Thing, Jesus Christ.
SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLE #13 - April 28th, 2023 by Fr. Ben Daghir

Editor's Note: This reflection is a summary of a homily from Fr. Ben Daghir. It focuses on a reading from the Acts of the Apostles and how the passage can guide us in effectively bringing people to the Church. 

Article:
The story of Philip baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch is a powerful example of evangelization. In other words, the eighth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles (8:26-40) provides a master class in evangelizing those outside of the Church. 

It is not Philip’s personal initiative that ignites this encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch but rather God’s grace. It’s “the angel of the Lord” who speaks to Philip as he listens to the promptings of the Spirit. Evangelization is not primarily a human effort but rather a response to God’s grace.

Philip is sent from Jerusalem to Gaza, known as “the desert route.” Philip is being sent out to an area where one would least expect a spiritual encounter. Let’s pause for a moment and consider how spiritual encounters can occur in the least likely of places (a grocery store, the park, an airport, a basketball game, the coffee room at work, the restaurant, etc.). Such is the power of God’s grace which can bring life out of a desert place. Many of us have family members, friends, and coworkers who are on the desert route, consumed in the currents of the secular age. Do we have the humility and courage of Philip to set out on the desert route once the Spirit prompts us to do so? 

God is clearly at work in the life of the Ethiopian eunuch long before Philip arrives. We hear that the eunuch had been in Jerusalem to worship. We also learn that the eunuch is reading the prophet Isaiah in the chariot. The eunuch was a court official and in charge of the entire treasury of the queen. Despite having power, wealth, honor, and pleasure (everything that the world has to offer), he is longing for something spiritual. Let’s consider people in our lives who are experiencing worldly success: they may appear to have it all together but in their respective chariots, they are searching for more than the world can offer. 

Philip listens to the promptings of the Spirit, who says, “Go and join up with that chariot.” Philip now must adjust his rhythm and be in pace with the chariot. We now have another master lesson to consider: we must walk with people at their pace and meet them exactly where they happen to be. Philip did not demand that the chariot slow down or speed up according to his preferences. Philip also did not request for the chariot to return to Jerusalem to the temple area. Instead, Philip simply walked alongside the chariot on the desert route. 

Philip first listens and could hear the eunuch reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip then asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” Notice that Philip posed a question. Then, something remarkable happened, “So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.” Just as Jesus listened to his interlocutors and then posed questions to the apostles, the crowds, the Pharisees, the sick, etc., now Philip listens and then poses a question to the eunuch. Just as Jesus stepped into the boat of the apostles, the tax collector stand of Matthew, the homes of the sick, the temple area of the Pharisees, etc., now Philip steps into the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch. Masterful evangelization is on display. 

The Ethiopian eunuch’s curiosity and wonder only increase. He asks Philip, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this?” About himself, or someone else?” Only now (after listening to the promptings of the Spirit, after walking in pace with the chariot, after asking a question to the eunuch, and after spending time with the eunuch in his chariot) does Philip begin to teach about the faith. Let me translate this last sentence: effective evangelization takes patience, humility, and grace. 

Then, the eunuch on the desert route sees water. Of course, this is not a mere coincidence but rather the fruit of evangelization. The Ethiopian eunuch then asks, “What is to prevent my being baptized?” Quite beautifully, the Ethiopian steps out of his chariot (meaning he steps out of the world of wealth, honor, power, and pleasure) and takes a step toward the water (the Christian life). Let me be clear: Philip is still walking alongside the eunuch as the two leave the chariot and head toward the water. And, in the most unlikely place called the desert route, Philip baptizes the eunuch. Masterful evangelization steps into the desert route (the world) and leads others to water (the Church). 

The eighth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles provides a master class to those of us who desire to bring people into the Catholic Church. The lessons could not be clearer: listen to the promptings of the Spirit while having faith that God is already at work in the lives of those we will meet in desert places, walk alongside these individuals at their pace and listen to them, pose a question to them, enter their chariot, converse with them, and teach them. And, once they are ready, bring them into the Church. 

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Fr. Ben Daghir is a priest for the Diocese of Erie. He is a graduate of Elk County Catholic High School in Saint Marys, Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, and St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland. He considers writing one of his favorite hobbies.