By Sherry Brownrigg
“The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” ~ Acts 13:52
Shortly after my conversion to the Catholic faith, I was invited to give a talk. Afterward, a woman approached me with her daughter, who appeared to be in her twenties and clearly reluctant to be there. The mother explained that her daughter had left the Catholic Church and was now strongly opposed to it. She was hoping I might say something that would help bring her daughter back to the faith.
The daughter and I spoke for a while, but it quickly became clear that her heart was closed. She had become deeply involved in a Protestant community, found meaningful relationships there, and read extensively from sources critical of Catholicism. She was settled in her new life, and I couldn’t break through the wall she had built.
I left that conversation feeling a mix of sadness and surrender. I had done what I could, and from that point on, I entrusted her to God’s care, praying for her over the years.
The Apostles’ Failure
During the Easter season, as we follow the apostles’ journeys in Acts, we see many come to faith through their witness—but we also see rejection. In today’s reading, Paul and Barnabas are expelled from Antioch despite their efforts. Jealousy kept their listeners from receiving the message.
In my encounter, I suspect the obstacle wasn’t theological, but relational—fear of losing the community she had come to love. Many who leave the Church today do so not because of doctrine, but because of emotional or experiential reasons that prevent them from hearing Christ’s call.
Filled with Joy and the Holy Spirit
In these moments, we do what we can, then entrust the rest to God. As today’s reading concludes, “The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” And so must we be—faithful, hopeful, and joyful, even when the results are unseen.
Prayer
Lord, help us remember that it is not up to us to convert souls. Grant that we may do our best and leave the saving of souls to you.
Call to Action
Next time you are tempted to be discouraged at what seems to be a failure in evangelization, remember Mother Teresa’s advice, “God calls us to be obedient, not successful.”
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Dear Sherry, I thought you were going to say that the young woman did come back to Jesus’ One True Church, but maybe she did, and it just isn’t known right now. 33 years have passed and with yours, her mother’s and other people who loved her, she indeed did come back…..or she will eventually. Thank you for this great article! +JMJ+