By: Jude Siciliano, OP

Dear Preachers:

When we preachers tell one another, “I am preaching on Sunday,” the usual response is, “What’s the Gospel?” That’s fine, but the scriptural possibilities for preaching are much richer than just one passage. So today, let’s broaden our scope and look at the riches of another Scripture: the Acts of the Apostles, today’s first reading.

The Acts of the Apostles is attributed to Luke the Evangelist. It is important for contemporary readers because it shows how faith moves from belief into action. It is the bridge between the life of Jesus and the life of the Church. Without Acts, Christians might know what Jesus taught, but we would have far less guidance on how disciples actually lived those teachings in real communities.

Acts shows believers how the Church began and how it continues to grow. Acts is not just a document about a long-gone past; rather, it reminds modern Christians that the Church was not born fully grown and perfect. It grew slowly through prayer, mistakes, discernment, and courage. These are not ancient values once needed but no longer applicable. Leaders like Peter and Paul struggled and disagreed – sounds familiar? Yet, they also learned to trust the Holy Spirit.

That is reassuring for believers today who experience many challenges in the Church. There is a strong message of hope for us in Acts because it teaches that growth often happens through tension and perseverance. Acts emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in everyday life. It is a constant reminder to contemporary readers that Christianity is not just about rules and fixed traditions; it is about a living relationship with God’s Spirit.

The Spirit guides decisions, strengthens courage, and inspires compassion among us. When we are in conflict, seek wisdom in prayer, hope to reconcile differences, or serve the poor, we are participating in the same Spirit-led mission described in Acts.

Acts calls us to be witnesses, not spectators. One of its most important messages is that every believer has a role in the mission of the Church. In Acts, the Gospel spreads not only through apostles and Church leaders but also through ordinary people – families, merchants, refugees, and converts.

Acts is important for contemporary believers because it reminds us that faith is perseverance in the face of struggle. Early Christians faced misunderstanding, persecution, and internal disagreements. Many were expelled from their families. Their story encourages us today, especially when we feel discouraged by division, secular pressures, or personal hardships. Acts reminds us that God works through imperfect people and difficult circumstances to accomplish surprising good.

The Acts of the Apostles is important to modern believers because it tells us: the Holy Spirit is still active; the mission of Christ continues; and hope and courage are always possible. Acts is not time-bound. It is not just the story of the first Christians; it is the story of the Church still being written in our own time.

We can also see the link between Acts and today’s Gospel. Jesus speaks tenderly to his disciples as he prepares to leave them. He tells them that love is not just a feeling, but a way of living. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Love shows itself daily in the choices we make: how we treat others, how we forgive, and how we remain faithful even when it is difficult.

Jesus also promises that we are not alone. He says his Father will send the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, to remain with us. For those who come to worship each week, this is comforting – a reminder that the Holy Spirit is active in our lives: in our families, in our parish community, and in the quiet moments when we seek guidance. Even when we feel uncertain about the future, God’s Spirit dwells within us, strengthening our determination to live as disciples.

Finally, Jesus says, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” These words speak to every believer who has known loss, confusion, and disappointment. Our faith tells us that Christ is present – risen and alive – working with us through every season of our lives. He encourages us to trust his presence and let it shape how we love one another.

In the Acts of the Apostles, when the deacon Philip the Evangelist casts out unclean spirits, the story is not only about dramatic exorcisms. It is also a proclamation that the power of Jesus brings freedom, healing, and joy wherever people are bound by forces that diminish their humanity.

For us today, in the name of Jesus Christ, “driving out evil spirits” usually means confronting the real forces that enslave hearts, communities, and societies. Most Christians are not called to perform formal exorcisms – that ministry in the Catholic Church is carefully entrusted to trained priests – but every Christian is called to resist evil and promote healing.

What might “unclean spirits” mean today? What are the destructive forces that take hold of people and communities? For example: hatred and violence; despair and hopelessness; racism and prejudice; greed and the exploitation of others; fear that paralyzes us; shame that convinces a person they are beyond forgiveness. How can we “drive out” these spirits today?

Not primarily by dramatic gestures, but by faithful, everyday discipleship in the spirit of Christ:

by prayer, inviting God’s presence into places of darkness;

by truth, challenging lies and injustice;

by compassion, standing with those who suffer;

by forgiveness, breaking cycles of resentment;

by community, refusing to leave people alone in their struggle.

In short, the Acts of the Apostles is important for contemporary believers because it tells us:

The Holy Spirit is still active.

The mission of Christ continues.

Courage and hope are always possible.

It is not just the story of the first Christians – it is the story of the Church still being written in our own time.

Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/es/bible/lecturas/051026.cfm