Acts 11: Step by Step
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Patience, perseverance, boldness. These are the marching orders for Christ’s fledgling Church, his new and blushing bride. Many new members are joining and the persecutor Saul has become the advocate Paul. The first major breach has occurred and now step by step (verse 4) Peter gets to the heart of his message: The resurrection is not only meant for the Christ; it is a gift given to each of us by the Creator . . . and our first step toward this gift is our baptism in the Spirit. Peter explains the message he received from God in a vision and wraps up his thinking with one on my favorite verses: Who was I to hinder God?
The Church undergoes persecution in Antioch, the place where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. Stephen has been stoned and is the Church’s first martyr. Barnabas continues as a loyal preacher of the Story, adding members to the Church. Step by step, with patience, perseverance, and boldness, these early founders move gently but firmly as they form Christ’s Bride – the Church. Prayers are answered. Miracles happen. Prayers are asked and answered, although not always understood. The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways. I need to remember these lessons when I feel deserted, overwhelmed or lost.
Often we should not really be able to recognize an answer to prayer if it came. Maybe the Holy Spirit was using our little prayer for some much larger purpose, of his own, and his prayer may be answered even if our little prayer seems to remain unnoticed. It is in God’s hands from start to finish, and we must accept that and not try to wrest it from him.
Father Simon Tugwell, O.P. Dominican priest, author of books on theology and spirituality, member of Dominican, Historical Institute, MAGNIFICAT Meditation, May 15, 2010
We are cogs on the wheels of Christ’s Church at work and we have the freedom to choose how we go about completing our daily rounds. We can choose to churn in place and stubbornly hold up the works, or we might move as we are asked. Who are we to hinder God?
We are part of the great fire that Christ brought to earth and we may fling ourselves at our work, burning out like a spark that leaps out into the night sky to extinguish itself quickly on the damp ground. Or we might choose to stay close to the heart of the flames when banked for the night to hunker down when fuel is low, hugging close to the origin, joining with the other faithful embers who lie together, glowing and waiting through the dark and cold . . . to spring to life again with new wood and the coming of the morning light and wind. Who are we to hinder God?
Patience, perseverance, boldness. These are the marching orders for Christ’s embattled and struggling Church, his faithful and hope-filled bride. Who are we to hinder God?
A re-post from May 7, 2012.
Image from: http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/03/hm3_3_1_2a.html
Cameron, Peter John. “Meditation for the Day.” MAGNIFICAT. 3.15 (2010). Print.
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