Easter 3C

Acts 9.1-20

April 17-18, 2010

 

I receive a daily devotional in my email every day.  On Friday the email began with this: “God is not through with you yet, nor with the rest of the world. What will God do with you and for you in these next quiet moments? Open your soul to the Spirit of Creation, hovering near to you now.”

Ordinarily, I would find something like that very moving, peaceful, even comforting; “What will God do with you and for you in these next quiet moments?”  Sort of makes you want to sit back, close your eyes and contemplate the nearness and the touch of the holy as the Spirit moves over and within you, doesn’t it?

And like I said, ordinarily, that’s exactly where I’d be with that opening devotional line.  EXCEPT, that I have spend the entire week in the book of Acts, bonding with the text about the conversion of Saul and even what I like to call, the conversion of Ananias. 

Today we have a story; no we have a part of a story about the moving of the Spirit, a part of a story about God’s movement in and among God’s people.  And the story in it’s totality is incredibly disturbing.  But you really didn’t hear it as a disturbing story.  No, you heard the timeless story of Saul, on the road to Damascus, knocked off his high horse by the risen Lord.  You heard the call to Ananias to care for this new brother in Christ and how at the end of the story, everybody is one big happy family in the proclamation of the Gospel. 

Nice story to be sure, but do you hear the challenge, the fear, the intrigue and terror inherent in this working of God in and through humanity?  Some days, when people hear these stories, I wonder, really and truly, why they just don’t go running and screaming from their pews. 

So let’s take today and listen, just listen to the story of God’s miraculous working among God’s people:

Now during those days the number of the disciples was increasing in number.  This was, of course, after the day of Pentecost.  Some were beginning to complain that the widows were being ignored in the daily distribution of food.  And so the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God to wait on tables and so let’s choose seven men of good standing.  Seven who are wise and full of the Spirit and let us appoint them to this task so that we may devote ourselves to continued prayer and the preaching of the word.” 

            And the whole community chose Stephen as well as six others.  These seven stood before the community who prayed for them and laid hands on them.  And because of the work done together—those serving the widows and attending to the distribution of food and those who were about the business of proclamation—the number of disciples continued to grow and so many grew in faith and wisdom.

            Stephen, in particular, was full of grace and power and he did many wonders and signs among the people. 

            But there were those who continued to argue with Stephen, for they could not withstand the wisdom and Spirit with which he spoke. So they stirred some others, saying that Stephen was speaking blasphemy against God and against Moses.  They stirred up the elders and they stirred up the people and Stephen found himself before the Council.  False witnesses were brought in to accuse him of speaking against the law. 

            But when the council looked at him, they saw the face of an angel.  So the high priest asked him, “Is this true?”  And Stephen gave a testimony to the work of God throughout history.  Stephen spoke of Abraham and his journey, and how the promises of God were for the descendants of Abraham.  Stephen spoke of the covenant of circumcision given as a promise and reminder of God.  Stephen spoke of the patriarchs, of God’s saving of Joseph and his brothers from famine.  Stephen spoke of the birth of Moses, his childhood in the home of Pharaoh; of Moses returning to defend his people and in the process killing an Egyptian and being exiled in Midian.  Oh Stephen spoke so eloquently and knowledgeably. 

            Stephen spoke of Moses at the burning bush and returning to Egypt with Aaron to free God’s people from slavery.  Stephen spoke of Israel wandering in the wilderness, creating the golden calf and the disobedience of God’s people.  Stephen spoke of Joshua and David and Solomon.  And he ended with an accusation:  “You stiff necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.”  Stephen spoke of the killing of the prophets and the death of Jesus. 

            And it enraged the council.  So much so that they ground their teeth at Stephen.  But Stephen looked heavenward and saw the glory of God and Jesus and he testified to the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.  But they all rushed together against him and dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death.  And as they went they laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul who watched and approved of their killing him. 

            Thus began a severe persecution against the church.  While devout men buried and lamented Stephen’s death, Saul was ravaging the church.  He was entering house after house, dragging off men and women and committing them to prison. 

            And yet the proclamation of the Gospel continued.  Philip continued his proclamation to Samaria where crowds listened eagerly to his testimony.  Philip cast out unclean spirits, caused the lame to walk and the paralyzed were blessed with movement.  There was great joy in Samaria.  Men and women were being baptized and great signs and miracles continued. 

            Peter and John were sent to be with Philip for the laying on of hands and the receiving of the Holy Spirit.  Testimony continued unit Peter and John returned to Jerusalem proclaiming the good news to the villages along the way.  Philip was called by God to go to the wilderness road where he encountered the Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Queen.  After conversation and interpretation of the scriptures, the Ethiopian received baptism and was made a member of the body of Christ. 

            Meanwhile, still breathing threats and murder, Saul received letters from the high priest, and heading down the road to Damascus, looking for people who followed the Way so that he might bind them up, men and women and take them to prison, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  And he fell to the ground as he heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?”  And Saul replied, “Who are you?”  And the voice replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.  Get up and enter the city and you will be told what to do.” 

            The men with him were speechless because they heard a voice but saw no one.  Saul got up but he couldn’t see anything, so the men took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.  He was there for three days with nothing to eat or drink and blind as a bat.

            Now in Damascus there was a man named Ananias.  Ananias was a follower of the way and the Lord came to him in a vision.  “Ananias,” said the Lord.  And obediently Ananias replied, “Here I am.”  And the Lord instructed him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, to the house of a man named Judas, and find a man from Tarsus named Saul.  He has seen a vision and he his praying.  Go and lay hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”

            Ananais answer, “Have you lost your mind?  Don’t you know that this mane is evil?  He has persecuted your saints and taken many to prison and even put them to death?  He is here to bind up folks like me who obediently follow you!”

            But God said, “Go, for I have chosen him to proclaim my name before Gentiles, Kings and the people of Israel.” 

            So Ananais went and did as he was told.  He entered the house and laid hands on Saul and immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and Saul regained his sight.  He was baptized and regained his strength after sharing a meal. 

            Saul remained with the disciples and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues saying, “He is the Son of God.” 

             “God is not through with you yet, nor with the rest of the world. What will God do with you and for you in these next quiet moments? Open your soul to the Spirit of Creation, hovering near to you now.”

            Amen