What Do We Do Now?


Book of Acts Chapters 3-5

I distinctly remember sitting in the back of my parents’ car on the day I graduated from college, asking, “Who am I?”  My mother, full of pride, responded, “You’re Valerie Balling, B.A!”  Unfortunately, that didn’t mean anything to me.  I knew who I was as a student, and I had been a good one for 22 years.  Suddenly everything was different, and I had no idea who I was supposed to be.

I have a lot of compassion for the apostles following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.  They seem to be unsure of what to do next, stuck in that in-between-ness of one purpose and another. We are told that turning that time they prayed.  This is important for all of us recognize that prayer IS an important activity.  It is not nothing.  It offers the important opportunity to listen and hear what we are to do, rather than just act.  Both are needed, and our actions usually bear more fruit when they are reasoned and purposeful.

We do note that Jesus’s disciples are called “apostles” in the Book of Acts because they are more then learners at this point, but ones being “sent out” into the world to share God’s message of love and redemption through Jesus Christ.

After the tremendous success of Pentecost, the apostles do as Jesus instructed and start their ministry in Jerusalem. Most of chapters 3 and 4 is a story about the trouble Peter and John had at the temple for sharing their faith through healing in the name of Jesus and preaching about his sacrifice for us. The authorities of the Temple do not like this and try to silence them by taking them into custody and having them interrogated by the Council. Rather than show their intimidation, Peter and John reminded faithful to their Lord and continued to profess his sovereignty.  Even when the Council told them to stop talking about Jesus, they responded, “We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (4:20) When we have something great to share, we cannot keep silent!

Right at the end of Chapter 5, our beloved patron saint, Barnabas (son of encouragement), makes his first appearance with a gift for the ministry.  He is shown as the example of the community of believers sharing their resources with each other so that everyone had all they needed.  Barnabas was known for his generosity and constant support of the early disciples.  His encouragement will be invaluable to the fledgling group of believers.

His generosity is contrasted with the dishonesty of Ananias and Sapphria, who also present the apostles with a gift, but hold some of it back, and as a result both die.  It is a harsh and difficult story because of the cruel consequences of their actions - and lack of an opportunity to repent – but it should swift justice for those who bear false witness.

Chapter 5 ends with the apostles back in prison after angering the Sadducees.  An angel helps them escape from prison, only to have them go back to exactly what they were doing before, which is where the elders find them in the temple.  Exasperated by the entire situation and angry because they can’t seem to get rid of these nuisances, they listen to a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who offer an opportunity to discern if what the apostles doing is from God or not, by seeing if it will succeed or fail. 

This is helpful for us as well when we are discerning a course of action. While it is cliché, it is true where God closes a door, God also opens a window, so if what we are doing isn’t successful, we may need to try a different way.  And in all things, we need to consult with the community to make sure what we are doing is beneficial for God’s purposes rather than our own.

I also want to share with you a wonder blog called “50 Days of Fabulous” offered by my friend and colleague, Laurie Brock.  Her reflection on these readings is very interesting and I encourage you to read it as well. http://50days.org/2018/04/hands-to-work-hearts-to-god/

The apostles did figure out what to do after Jesus’s ascension, just like I figured out my path after college.  It was not easy, but it was an important part of the journey.  Take a few minutes to reflect on your own journey and see where you grew in your relationship with God in those moments when you were unsure of what to do next.  If that is happening right now, pray about it.  Then act.

With Easter Joy,
Rev. Valerie+

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Give God the Glory

Reflections on Chapters 12-14 of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles Years ago, I had a grandparent chargingly ask me if it was OK for her to be proud of her granddaughter, because she had been taught, “Pride goeth before the fall.”   I assured her that being proud of her grandchild was not a sin when the feeling was offered in thanksgiving of the accomplishment and not boosting up one’s own ego. “Look at what I have done,” has been the down fall of many people because they neglect or forget those that helped them achieve their goals. The Book of Acts shares story after story of the importance of acknowledging that all power and might comes from God, to whom we should offer our thanks and praise.   When our egos take over and we congratulate only ourselves for what we have done, we become idolatrous. Chapter 12 records an terrible story of King Herod’s response to the apostles.   He outright kills James and then arrests Peter, who is guarded by over 30 men....
Read more

Good Lord, Deliver Us

Today is the “Hallmark Holiday” Valentine’s Day.  Some of us will mark the occasion by wearing red or remembering at the last minute to buy a card or flowers of one’s beloved.  But my thoughts and prayers are with the 17 families of Parkland, Florida who mark today as the first anniversary of living without a loved one who was killed in a shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.  It seems hard to believe a year has past since that awful day, which also happened to be Ash Wednesday.   Due to that fact, I was not as “plugged-in” that day and only got snippets of information between services.   As the details emerged, it was tragic and heartbreaking, taking on a surreal shimmer as most unthinkable acts do. Unfortunately, it was quite real, and the aftermath will be felt forever. I don’t know any of the victims, however I feel a connection to Carmen Schentrup, who was a 16 (almost 17) year old senior with big plans. She was also Episcopalian. ...
Read more

Transformation

Reflections on Chapters 9-11 of the Acts of the Apostles A little over a year ago, on the Feast of St. Paul’s Conversion (January 25), I wrote a blog post entitled “People Don’t Change – Until They Do.”   In our cynical world, too often we dismiss the idea that transformation can be a reality: that a criminal can be rehabilitated; an addict can remain in recovery, a “sinner” can become a “saint.” It is true that, being human, many of us fall short of complete change (I’ve lost and gained the same 40-50 lbs. many times in my life). However, such skepticism neglects the power of the Holy Spirit at work in peoples lives.   As we continue to read through the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, an essential art of what the author is sharing with us are amazing stories of such radical transformation that the only thing that can account for it is the Holy Spirit. And it begins with Saul.   He is the perfect villain in the story of the apostles.   No one was more opp...
Read more