Monday, May 16, 2022
           (click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
I see you have the faith to be healed
Lame from birth, a crippled man listened to Paul speaking. Paul looked intently at him and saw that he had the faith to be healed. Paul called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!”
Why did Bonaventure say, “Seek God through the groanings of prayer, not through diligent reading?” Why did Paul use the same powerful verb three times in six sentences:
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for the redemption of our bodies … And the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through groans that words cannot express.
Bonaventure also said, “Seek desire, not understanding. Seek to make God your spouse, not your teacher.” Paul knew nothing of the crippled man’s family or life. He simply loved him. He saw through the old clothes and stubby crutches and unshaven face and … what?
He saw that he had the faith to be healed.
What?!
The Greek villagers knew this guy, known him for years. Born here, never walked a step in his life. Never did a lick of work either. This guy belongs at the back of the room.
Not any more. This healed man is standing tall. Healing like this means the gods have come to town.
And the priest of Zeus brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for together with the people he intended to offer sacrifice.
Paul and Barnabas were gone home by then, having happily watched the man jump to his feet. But vainglory (which means spiritual pride) was crouching at their door like a roaring lion. Vainglory was lapping at their feet, inviting them back into the worshipping crowd. Vainglory would most likely prevent God healing through them ever again.
They had to get back to their groaning!
Paul and Barnabas knew many Hebrew stories, including the one about when Joseph met his brothers in Egypt and said to them, “Am I in the place of God?” They knew the story of King Saul too, who pretty much decided that he was in the place of God. Someone ran and told them they were about to be anointed as gods themselves. And they were frightened, they were angry, they were in a big hurry to stop all this.
They tore their garments and rushed into the crowd, shouting, “Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, and we proclaim to you that you should turn from these idols to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.”
Not to us, O Lord, but to your name be the glory, because of your mercy, because of your truth.
And you know what happens next? It’s not in today’s lectionary, but in the very next verse … “They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.” Bonaventure makes it sound like we have a choice to groan; Paul didn’t have any choice at all. “The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” The villagers weren’t about to give up their worship of Zeus. They left Paul for dead. “But after the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.”
Wow! Seek God with groanings of prayer, not through diligent reading. And the Spirit helps us in our weakness. There’s no way to “believe this.” I can only live it.
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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