Tuesday, May 9, 2023
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Not really merely nor sincerely dead
The crowds stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
There’s a triumphant moment in The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy pours a bucket of water to save her scarecrow friend, but most of it douses the Wicked Witch of the West, who created the killing field in the first place. The witch/nasty librarian moans, “Oh, no, oh, no!” as she begins to melt. The water is killing her. “I’m melting! I’m melting!” And in just seconds she is nothing but a puddle on the castle floor.
Dorothy, of course, makes her best Kansas apology to the witch’s goons, soldiers and flying monkeys, but they bow down to her. The spell of the wicked witch has been broken, and they look at Dorothy and began to sing. “Hail to Dorothy! The wicked witch is dead!”
Back in Munchkinland the mayor, barrister and coroner want to be absolutely sure about this unexpected miracle, to be sure that “she is morally, ethic’lly, spiritually, physically, positively, absolutely undeniably and reliably dead!” And the coroner assures them he “thoroughly examined her, and she’s not only merely dead, she’s really most sincerely dead!”
She was wicked, and so the good munchkins celebrate. Her “loyal” soldiers are no longer under her spell. For now the world is safe. Who knows? Perhaps the world will be safe forever.
Paul would have been dead too, perhaps another stone or two. Or maybe he WAS dead already.
When the disciples gathered around him, Paul got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe, and there they proclaimed the good news and made a considerable number of disciples.
Paul’s life was sustained, so he continued his treks, his preaching, and his conversions. God’s servant Saul, now named Paul, must have been a hero to many in the cities where he preached. He has become a hero to many of us, as these days we listen to his words and often confuse them with the words of Jesus. His letters take up more bible space than the gospels written by the disciples.
Paul and Barnabas strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith. “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.
Dorothy would have gone home to Kansas in a balloon manned by the wizard of Oz, except her dog Toto jumped out of the balloon basket and she jumped out after him. Whereupon the wizard floated up and away without her. Good Witch Glinda/Auntie Em tells her to tap the heels of her red ruby slippers three times and say again and again, “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”
She did get home. And Paul got home too. For me, year after year the word “home” becomes richer. Just where home is exactly, changes in my mind from time to time. “Entering” home, entering the Kingdom of God defies definition, until I stop trying so hard. Like Superman phasing through a thick wall, smoothly, thoroughly and in peace, that’s how I imagine it is entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
I just stand and look up at God, and I’m there.
(Acts 14, Psalm 145, Luke 24, John 14)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
#
