The persecution against the Church produces a union of feelings and recourse to God especially through the first prayer of the Christian Community. This is seen in the first reading. The prayer starts with the liturgical invocation, "Master", which praises the universal dominion of God. By accepting the plan of the Lord we make history according to a well-determined plan of God.

But humankind rebelled against God. Their plans and historical conspiracy against God and His Messiah become real in the Passion of Christ. Nevertheless, Jesus the true 'servant of God' surrenders to the 'salvific plan of God' for the good of all humankind.

The disciples of Jesus ask God to take note of their sufferings and threats and save them. They were to learn from experience that salvation does not mean liberation from persecution, but of communicating the grace and strength of the Spirit which is manifested in the "proclamation of His message with all boldness".

The Lord "listened" to their prayer and they experienced the outpouring of the Spirit. In freedom and strength the community "began to proclaim the word of God boldly".

In our communitarian liturgy when we make present the saving presence of God in Christ, let us ask for and receive the strength of the Spirit so that we may give testimony of our faith with our words and deeds.