The Apostles appointed Philip as a deacon to help care for the Church's needs. When persecution broke out in Jerusalem, Philip traveled north to Samaria. The obstacles Philip faced were real. Jews and Samaritans had deep tensions — religious, cultural, and social — that kept them from engaging with each other. Yet Deacon Philip walked into Samaria without hesitation.

The Gospel comes to us today in the words of Jesus Christ, who speaks to His disciples at a very sensitive time — the night of their Last Meal together. After this night, their lives change forever; the one whom they followed, depended on, and loved is announcing His departure. You can imagine the sentiments that enveloped the atmosphere as they listened to Him.