Acts 8:1-8 / John 6:35-40
Persecution is a method that is often used to suppress a growing movement.
But persecution can never be justified, especially when the truth lies with the persecuted.
Strange as it may sound, persecution only strengthens the conviction and the faith of the persecuted.
In the 1st reading, a bitter persecution started against the Church in Jerusalem, and everyone fled to the country districts of Judaea and Samaria.
But those who fled did not hide in fear. Among them was Philip who went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them.
The truth of the message was evident when unclean spirits were cast out from the possessed and paralytics and cripples were cured.
So the fact, from Scriptures and from the history of the Church, is that persecution could never put the Church down.
On the other hand, it is often the prosperity and affluence that have stifled and bloated the Church, and even making it a counter-witness to the Good News.
Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life and that tells us something. All we need is the Eucharist to go on witnessing to our faith and living out the Good News of salvation.
The rest are just decorations and ornaments.