Rev. Valerie's Reveille

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...

Reflections on Chapters 6-8 of the Acts of the Apostles Part of the invaluable gift of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles is witnessing how the early believers were able to continue the ministry that Jesus Christ started.   The apostles and other believes were told over and over again to stop their testimonies and witnesses, threatening and intimidating them as much as they could.   And yet they persisted, praying together each day and sharing Christ’s message of redemptive love. In their actions, they testify that they are not doing any of the wonders and signs through their own power, but through the power give to them by Jesus Christ; that is, through the Holy Spirit.   Being open to the power of the Spirit is awesome and wonderous, if not a bit scary as one never knows how the Spirit will work but trusting that the Spirit will always direct us to do God’s will. We see that clearly in the narrative of the calling of the first deacons of the Church. ...

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 p...

Luke Chapter 24 and Acts Chapters 1-2 As I sit down to write this blog, I am aware that it is the 50 th Anniversary of the assassination of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., another innocent man killed for the crime for daring to speak true to power.   Will we ever learn? Alleluia! Christ is risen!   We continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke and the book of the Acts of the Apostles, following the reading plan of the Good Book Club ( www.goodbookclub.org ) sponsored by Forward Movement. I left off last week with Jesus’s death on the cross.   This week is jam-packed with Jesus’s “mighty resurrection and glorious ascension” – as well as Pentecost! It is almost unfair of all that is in these 3 chapters as it is the crux of our faith, our Church and our life together. We could spend YEARS on this material, so a quick reflection will not due it justice. Please take time to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them for yourself. The grief and devasta...

Chapters 21-23 of the Gospel of Luke Although I grew up in the Church (from about 2 nd grade), I don’t recall hearing Jesus’s suffering called “The Passion.”   I think we might have learned that term in Confirmation Class (6 th grade), but it didn’t make much sense to me as the word “passion” seemed to be what was on the soap operas my mother wouldn’t let me watch. As far as I knew, Jesus didn’t even have a girlfriend! I must admit that referring to Jesus’s Passion is still a bit jarring to me as popular culture continues to use that word to connote intense romantic love.   And yet, there is an elegance to that as well, as Jesus is passionate in his love for the Church, the beloved community of believers, for whom he sacrificed his life. The intensity of emotions that runs through these 3 chapters underscores the depth of his devotion and desire to love us even when we don’t deserve it.   It is difficult to read the events that lead to Jesus’s execution, but i...

Luke Chapters 17-20 The Bible is a fascinating collection of books that invite the reader to delve into the “Big Questions” (Who am I? What are we? Why are we here?).   As such, the Bible as a whole can be a bit intimidating or overwhelming, which is why we usually approach it in small, almost bite sized pieces in order to digest what the text is offering us.   Indeed, most of the readings we use in our Sunday Lectionary are less than 15 verses long. Even at that, we read four different passages each Sunday, so that is a LOT of Scripture to consider AND apply in our lives.   That is why choosing to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is a life-long commitment, as we need all that time to take in all he had to teach. It is also true that as we ourselves mature and grow throughout our lives, our understanding of Scripture changes as well.   Again, in our Sunday Lectionary, we rotate through the 4 Gospels every 3 years (not reading all of them, but most).   In ...

Luke Chapters 13-16 I have been using my blog during Lent to summarize and reflect on the Gospel of Luke as The Good Book Club has organized its reading during this season.   And I will do that today as well, but I am also mindful that today is the 1-month anniversary of the Parkland, FL shooting, for which our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. William “Chip” Stokes (a founding member of Bishops United Against Gun Violence), has called for a Day of Lamentation at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton.   As I write this, he and others are there offering prayers and repentance for our neglect of human rights by our own hands and laws.   The tag line for the event is, “First we pray, then we act,” which is an important reminder that justice requires both.   I pray you will join with the Bishop and me to offer our own prayers for guidance of how best to support responsible gun ownership and stop mass shootings. As always, Scripture is the source for our learning and understanding of...