Easter 5C

Acts 11.1-8

May 1-2, 2010

            I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the less sure I am that I have any of “the answers.”  Those things I thought I knew, I have come to realize I do not.  Those things of which I was absolutely certain, I now understand I have not a clue. 

            I used to know how to parent with absolute certainty.  I knew exactly how to make children respond and obey.  And then I had my first daughter.  As a young lay person, I knew exactly what scripture meant.  I taught high school Sunday School and gave those poor unsuspecting young people absolute answers.  And then I went to seminary and within days my first Old Testament professor pulled the rug out from under me. 

            I went off to seminary in my thirties, and sat in the library and under trees with classmates and we knew, we absolutely knew how to make parishioners respond to God’s free gift of grace; we knew without a doubt how to make obedient people of God out of you people who sit in the pews.  And then we all became pastors. 

            My first year of preaching was a struggle but as I concluded that year, I wondered how I would ever preach those texts again in three years; after all, I had said every important thing that could be said.  And then three years later those texts came around again and I read them and they were new and alive and different ways. 

            I have come to realize that I know very little.  You know very little.  We could dedicate the rest of our lives, and in fact, I hope that we do, to the art of Biblical study; to the practice of discerning the call of the Spirit, and until our last breath it will come to us new and fresh each day.  And sometimes that is good news and sometimes that is frustrating, scary news.  So again, I turn our attention to the story of Peter and Cornelius; two men whose lives were forever changed in different ways because of the newness of God’s word and God’s call in their lives.

            It begins in Caesarea with a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called.  He was a devout man who feared God with all his household.  He gave alms generously and prayed constantly.  Late one afternoon, he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.”  He stared in terror and answered, “What is it, Lord.”  The angel responded, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.  Now send to Joppa for a certain Simon, who is called Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.”  When the angel left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa. 

            About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up to the roof to pray.  He became hungry and wanted something to eat.  While it was being prepared, he fell in to a trance.  He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners.  In it were all kinds of f our-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air.  Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up Peter; kill and eat.”  But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.”  The voice said to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.”  This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.

            Now, while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared.  They were asking for Simon’s house and were standing by the gate.  They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there.  While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, three men are searching for you.  Now get up, go down and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.”  So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?”  They answered, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”  So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging. 

            The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him.  The following day they came to Caesarea.  Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.  On Peter’s arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshipped him.  But Peter made him get up, saying, “Stand up; I am only a mortal.”  And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled; and he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.  So when I was sent for, I came without objection.  Now may I ask why you sent for me?” 

            Cornelius replied. “Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me.  He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.  Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying at the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.  Therefore, I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come.  So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.” 

            Then Peter began to speak to them, “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.  You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.  That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.  We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put hi to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.  All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

            While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.  The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God.  Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”  So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  Then they invited him to stay for several days.

            The believers in Jerusalem caught wind of this and asked Peter when he arrived there why he was eating with Gentiles. 

           

            Peter and Cornelius are two of my favorite Biblical characters.  They both thought they knew so much.  Cornelius KNEW that all there was to life was being a good person, giving alms and praying; most likely to the God of Israel along with the gods of Rome.  Peter KNEW that following the letter of the law was ultimate in earning salvation.  Cornelius knew his role in life as a leader of men.  Peter knew his role in life as a follower of Jesus.  Cornelius knew he was called to give orders and demand obedience.  Peter knew his role was to listen and follow and obey. 

            And yet the Spirit spoke to both of them and Peter’s mouth was opened to give incredible testimony and Cornelius was called to submit to baptism as a beloved little child of God. 

            Today we baptize a baby boy.  Alexander.  I do not know what he will become.  But there are a few things I know; a few things you know:  That he will both be called to be a beloved child of God and to lead others to follow the Christ.  How, will depend on how the Spirit speaks to him and his parents.  How we are called as beloved children of God to lead others to Christ is completely dependent on how the Spirit moves and breathes in us.

I do know that the Spirit is alive and moving in this place.  I know that we are called to give testimony to one another of the marvelous things that God has done and is doing in our lives.  I know that we are called to be a community of encouragement and support and service.  I know that you are loved.  Anything else we need to know, we, like Cornelius and Peter, will have to learn it together. 

Amen