Understanding What We Read

The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, "Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route." So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, "Go and join up with that chariot." Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. This was the Scripture passage he was reading:

Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth.

Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, "I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?" Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him.

As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?" Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him. 

When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing. Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.  (Acts 8:26-40)

Acts continues to give us another imaginative account of Philip and his conversation with an angel. The Spirit of the Lord also snatches Philip away.  Acts provides us with important instruction.  Phillip asks the Ethiopian eunuch: “Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone instructs me?’” 

How do we answer Philip?  Do we seek instruction?  We should because Scripture passages are more easily understood by Jews who are far more familiar with the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) than Catholics, even cradle Catholics. Meanings can be cryptic and elusive.  

We 21st century Catholics find it hard to understand 1st century thinking, especially because during Jesus’ time and thereafter followers of Jesus, later called Christians, had to withstand oppression, persecution, prejudice, great hostility, and death especially at the hands of the Roman Empire. 

Ironically and tragically, many Catholics, including our leaders, have assumed the role of oppressors, persecutors, and hostile forces against those who don’t share our faith and doctrine.  Internecine “warfare” and hostility even occurs in our own ranks.  I cite a recent America Magazine article (April 2023) to support my assertion: “The Poison of Polarization and the Catholic call to communion” by Sam Sawyer.

Let’s not be like sheep led to the slaughter, or silent lambs before the shearers.  With freedom of speech in mind, let’s open our mouths so as not to deny justice and forgiveness to anyone who requires them.

Deacon David Pierce