May 4, 2020                (today’s lectionary)
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True stories from the edge of heaven
Political correctness isn’t a new thing. “You entered the house of uncircumcised people!” Peter began and explained it to them step by step. Then the big news organizations stepped in and turned this into a firestorm. Thank God, not yet then. It was not yet the time when all of us have to hear everything about everybody everywhere instantly.
So Peter told his story. The trance, the vision, the voice, and then a second time the voice: What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.
Angels watching over me. These stories from Acts are amazing, and angels are right there with me when I read. They are all over the page. The Spirit told me to accompany them without discriminating. At the man’s house he told how he had seen the angel standing in his house. And the Holy Spirit fell upon them! And who was I to hinder God?
When they heard this they stopped complaining. When I heard this I stopped questioning, stopped thinking only for myself. I started to listen! They glorified God and accepted God’s decision to grant repentance and forgiveness and baptism to the Gentiles. Oh, glory!
There are thirsty deer all over the forest, Lord. And I am thirsty too. Lead me on and bring me to your holy mountain. I will go in and I will sing, and I will give you thanks. I am so thirsty for the living God.
Jesus comforts and confronts all in the same voice. I am the good shepherd and I lay down my life for the sheep. Follow me, give your life for our Father. I lay down my life in order to take it up again. Do not be afraid.
But there are hired men, not shepherds, not owners of the sheep, do not trust them with your lives. A wolf comes and scatters, and they pay no attention. All they want is their money. All they want is YOUR money.
Jesus looked straight into the shuttered eyes of the Pharisees and scribes, his lips compressed to just a thin line. They knew who he meant. He was talking about them, and he was giving credit for his words to God. This is why the Father loves me … This command I have received from my Father. There was nothing they could say.
(From Acts 11, Psalm 42, John 10)
