Greetings to you dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I welcome you to sixth Sunday of Easter. It is our prayer that the Risen Lord will continue to identify with us in all our situation, most especially during our crisis.

Let us continue from where we stopped last week. Last Sunday we reflected on the theme: “Do not let your heart be troubled especially during crisis.” The Church was growing, but problems came Acts 6:1-7. The apostles did not run away. They faced the crisis and shared the work. Today we go deeper. Philip was found preaching in Samaria today with boldness and clarity, and it was reported that people were drawn to him because they could see something supernatural about him, they could identify that the words are not just mere words, rather, they are words full of spirit and life. Permit me to digress a bit because our attention today is centered on the Christ being in our crisis. It is on this note I will like to drawn our attention to what led Philip to Samaria.

Last week if we can still recall vividly, it was reported that the Hellenist widows were neglected during the distribution of food, the issue was reported and it was a crisis amidst their success. What ought to be a stumbling block for the progression of the proclamation of the Gospel turned out to be a stepping stone for the ministry. The apostles resolved it by consulting the Holy Spirit and they were ministered to choose seven deacons. Among the seven deacons were Philip and Stephen.

Prior before today, in Acts 7:59, it was reported that Stephen, one of the seven deacons has been stoned to death, this however led to migration of people from Jerusalem to different region of the world. Through, persecution, Philip also found himself in Samaria where he is preaching today. If we may say, Crisis sent him to Samaria. But in this crisis, he recognized Jesus. Not all crisis are evil, some are necessary to push us to our next level in life. Christ enters our crisis not to watch, but to walk with us. He told the apostles, “If you love me, keep my commandments” Jn 14:15. Love is tested when trouble comes. Anybody can dance when music is playing. But will you still love God when the drum stops?

Jesus knew crisis was coming. He was going to the Cross. The apostles would be confused, afraid, alone. So He gave them a promise: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always” Jn 14:16. The Holy Spirit is our Helper, our Lawyer, our Comforter. He is God saying, “You are not alone.” When your shop burns, when admission fails, when marriage shakes, Christ is there. He says, “I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you” Jn 14:20.

As we say, “The rain does not know skin; it touches everybody.” Crisis touches everybody, but Christ touches crisis. He does not remove every problem, but He gives us peace inside the problem. “Because I live, you will live” Jn 14:19. If Christ is in the boat, the storm can shake you, but it cannot sink you.

Brothers and sisters, what crisis are you facing now? No money? No child? No peace in your home? No enough food to give the Children, No stable source of income? No job?  Don’t face it alone. Jesus says, “I will not leave you orphans” Jn 14:18. The Holy Spirit is here. Call Him. Last Sunday we learned not to allow our heart to be troubled. Today, handle crisis with Christ. If Philip had stayed in Jerusalem crying, Samaria would not have heard the Gospel.

Your crisis can become your ministry. The widow who lost her pot later taught others how to cook with clay. As we say, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” That was Jesus. That can be you. So do three things this week: 1. Pray, invite the Advocate into your problem. 2. Obey, keep His commandments even when it’s hard Jn 14:15. 3. Hope: tell someone why you still trust God 1 Pt 3:15.  Shalom