85 - The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians 1:1-23

Commentators tell us that the author of the letter to the Colossians was probably not Paul, based on both literary and theological differences.  Nevertheless this letter clearly comes out of the Pauline tradition and provides further insight into the thought and experiences of the early church.

The heart of the letter is the "Christ hymn" of 1:15-20, which remind us that Christ was part of creation: "he is the image of the invisible God the firstborn of all creation."  In a somewhat bold during the height of the Roman empire, "in him all things in heaven and earth were created, ... whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers..."

He is the firstborn from the dead - the first resurrected - and he is the head of the church.  "In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell..."  He was God incarnate.

This hymn helps remind us when we get lost in the swirls of competing demands not only in our church life but in life in general what, and Who, is most important.

Colossae

84 - Rejoice in the Lord

Philippians 4:2-9

Paul writes to his beloved church in Philippi, where Lydia was the first convert.  The letter shows his affection, his happy memories, his sense of their being fellow workers with him in sharing the gospel.

He exhorts them to unity and humility, following the example of Christ.  He quotes what was apparently a hymn, celebrating Christ's life, death and resurrection.

At the closing, in our reading today, he seeks the resolution of a conflict between two of his fellow workers in the gospel - Euodia and Syntyche - he wants them to be of the "same mind in the Lord."

Conflict in church?  At this early date?  Who would believe such?

The reality is we have always had conflict in the church.  Circumcised or not-circumcised?  Scripture or tradition? Rome or Reformation?  African Americans as members? Women in the pulpit or no?  Incense or no incense?  Gays & lesbians as bishops?

We have to work these conflicts out.  Whether or not Jesus intended to form a new church, that's what we have and we have to sort out our conflicts or continue to splinter the church in new ways.  How can we put the pieces back together?

83 - The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20

I have to admit, I have little trouble with this passage.

There is the militaristic language of armor, breastplate, shield, sword, contrary to other scripture passages such as "nations shall beat their swords into plowshares," or "turn the other cheek."

And then there is a hint that we are invoking God to be on our side.  I prefer the words attributed to Abraham Lincoln:  "We trust that God is on our side.  It is more important to know that we are on God's side."

But if we take away the military language, what is it that we are advised to cling to?  Truth...righteousness...gospel of peace...faith...salvation.  Those are truly at the core of what makes us Christian.

The author of the letter to the Ephesians (who may not have been Paul) is giving encouragement to the young church in Ephesus in their new life in Christ.  Language we hear in baptismal services comes from this letter:

4:…. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

The strength the Ephesians drew from this letter we can also, if we "pray in the Spirit at all times" for the strength to follow Jesus, and become peacemakers and reconcilers in the world.

There is another way to surround yourself with God's protection.  In the Celtic tradition, there is what is called a Caim prayer.  Here is a description and a brief example from Celtic Daily Prayer - Prayers and Readings from the Northumbria Community:

Draw a circle clockwise around yourself, using the right index finger as you say the prayer; this symbolizes the encircling love of God.  (The situation may make this physical action impractical; in which case see the action in your mind’s eye as you pray.)  See yourself and others encircled and be aware that the living God surrounds and encloses with His love, care and protection.

Circle me (or another being prayed for), Lord.

Keep comfort near

and discouragement afar.

Keep peace within

and turmoil out.

Circle me, Lord

Keep protection near

and danger afar.

Circle me, Lord

Keep home within,

keep despair without.

Circle me, Lord

Keep light near

and darkness afar.

Circle me, Lord

Keep peace within

and anxiety without.

The eternal Father, Son and Holy Spirit

shield me on every side.

Amen.

82 - The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:16 - 6:10

Paul is just a little upset by what he has heard is going on in the churches in Galatia which he had founded and nurtured.  And it shows in his writing.

He had told them that the Good News of Jesus was available to all, including those who were not circumcised.  After the churches were established other preachers came who preached that circumcision was necessary for all believers in Jesus.  You can see how upset Paul is if you just go back a few verses before today's reading.

So in the letter to the Galatians Paul reiterates what he also said to the Romans:  we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by doing works of the law.

Immediately before today's reading Paul tells his readers what freedom from the law by living in Christ means:

 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

So if you live by this single commandment to love one another, then you do not live by "the flesh" but by the Spirit, and the fruits of the Spirit flow from that way of living.

Have you experienced the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that Paul promises?  Not all the time, but sometimes?  Does Paul's message ring true?

81 - More Than Conquerors

Romans 8:1-39

The letter Paul wrote to the Christian community in Rome in 58AD is his fullest explication of his theology, particularly relating to God's righteousness, and justification by faith in/of Jesus Christ.

This eighth chapter is part of the sometimes dense Pauline theology, and it has great words of encouragement for those who live in Christ.  The first four verses may be as good a summary of his theology as you can find:

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

For those of us who sometimes don't know how to pray or what to pray for:  

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And finally, the great reassurance of God's love: 

31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,
         "For your sake we are being killed all day long;
          we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Spirit of God in us

80 - The Trip to Rome

Acts 25:1 - 28:31

In the last chapters of Acts Paul is dragged before the Roman governor and accused of being an "agitator among all the Jews" and a "ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes."

The governor, Felix, can't see any reason to do anything to Paul other than leave him in confinement (leaving open the possibility of a bribe to release him).

Our reading starts when the new governor, Porcius Festus, takes office.  He wants to resolve the issue of Paul quickly.  After hearing the case against Paul he decides to grant Paul's request to be tried as a Roman citizen.  Before going to Rome, he has another hearing before King Agrippa.  The parallels in these hearings and trials to the trials of Jesus are striking -- the Roman authorities are not inclined to punish Paul for accusations, based on false evidence, brought by the Jewish leaders.

Paul before King Agrippa

Paul's transfer to Rome is an adventure, as his ship is run aground off Malta.  The natives provide hospitality, and are stunned when Paul survives the bite of a poisonous viper.  Paul heals the father of a leading citizen of Malta, and other citizens.  Finally their ship is re-provisioned and they depart for Rome.

He was restricted but not confined, and used his time to preach to the Jews - some of whom he convinced and some not.  We are not told of his trial and death -- we just know that he preached boldly about the Kingdom of God and about the Lord Jesus Christ.  Thanks be to God.

79 - More Missionary Journeys

Acts 16:1-20:38

Paul is racking up the frequent preacher miles.

He gets to a number of places and starts churches that he will later send letters to:  Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth are among his stops.

These five chapters have too much action to summarize, but a few of the highlights for me:

• Paul crosses over to Macedonia, present day Greece.  This is the first missionary trip to Europe, paving the way for the rise of European Christianity.
• The first evangelism in Europe was at Philippi, and it was there that Paul met with a group of women at their place of prayer.  The first European convert was a woman named Lydia, a business woman who dealt in purple.  Given the few mentions of women by name in scripture, it is significant that a woman has that role.  She goes on to demonstrate generous hospitality to Paul twice.
• Likewise Priscilla and Aquila, wife and husband, are key partners of Paul.  He takes the pair with him to Ephesus and leaves them there to be in charge of the church.  
• One of my favorite lines in the New Testament:  when in Thessalonica, after Paul had been preaching about Jesus being raised from the dead, his opponents attacked the house where Paul was staying and dragged several Christians before the authorities.  The charge?  "These people...have been turning the world upside down..."  What a great accusation!  If only we all could be charged with turning the world upside down!
• Paul's great speech to the philosophers in Athens.  Paul tailors his argument to them in terms they can understand, and maybe it speaks to those of us in the post-Enlightenment West as well:

Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, "Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. ²³ For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, 'To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. ²⁴ The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, ²⁵ nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. ²⁶ From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, ²⁷ so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him-- though indeed he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸ For 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.'

Paul preaching in Athens

What struck you most about this reading? 

78 - The Council at Jerusalem

Acts 15:1-41

Some folks had come from Judea, the Jewish-Christian area, and were teaching that converts to the way of Jesus had to be circumcised, as required in the laws of Moses.

This is not what Paul had been teaching.

The conflict had to go to the head office in Jerusalem.

In the council meeting, Peter, who has had his own experience with converting Gentiles, testifies that the Holy Spirit goes both to Gentiles and to the Hebrew people, and that "we believe that we will be saved by grace of the Lord Jesus..."

Paul also tells of his experiences among the Gentiles.  Here in Acts we don't read what he said.  But when Paul gives his own account of in the letter to the Galatians, we learn that he had the Greek (Gentile) Titus with him, who had not been required to be circumcised.

It is hard to tell a Christian who is standing right in front of you that they aren't good enough.

Finally, James, the brother of our Lord, who is calling the shots at the Jerusalem meeting, quotes scripture in which God indicates that including Gentiles has been part of his plan all along.  James concludes that if Gentiles will follow some basic rules regarding food that has been sacrificed to idols, that they would have the hand of fellowship extended to them.

Thus the path is chosen.  The community of the followers of Jesus will not be a sub-set of Judaism; rather it will be open to all people, to the ends of the earth.

Council of Jerusalem

77 - The First Missionary Journey

Acts 13:1 - 14:28

Paul and Barnabas, along with John Mark, now take off on the first missionary trip.

What do we learn from their travels?

The are bold and courageous.  They go anywhere, take whatever dangers there are - being thrown out of a city, being stoned by opponents.  They just keep on going.

They preach about Jesus in the same way Peter had preached -- there is not a different message.

And they meet people where they are.  To the Jews in the synagogue, they show how Jesus follows on from the line of David, but differed from David because God raised him up.  To the Gentiles they echoed the language that God would make them a light to the world.

Besides preaching they pronounced the healing of the crippled man in Lystra, and spoke to the Greek crowd of the living God, greater than Zeus and Hermes whom they worshiped.

And they helped give structure to the church, appointing elders or presbyters.

Stoning of Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

What an incredible turnaround Paul has made!

76 - The Road to Damascus

Acts 9:1-31

In the last two readings we have seen the Good News being heard and accepted by a foreigner (the Ethiopian), and by Cornelius, a Roman soldier.

Now we have perhaps the most significant conversion in history - that of a zealous Jew who spared nothing to persecute the followers of the Way. He had just received a warrant to arrest any followers of Jesus to bring them to Jerusalem.

Paul was clearly a man of violence - he was "still breathing threats and murder" against the Christians; he was going to bring people bound to Jerusalem.  He tells this story himself later on in Acts 22, emphasizing that this was full blown physical persecution.

When Jesus speaks to Saul, he says he himself as the one being persecuted, identifying with his followers, just as he identified with the hungry and thirsty and sick in Matthew 25.

The action on the road to Damascus is between Jesus and Saul/Paul.  But it still takes the community of believers in Damascus, represented by the somewhat reluctant Ananias, to complete the transformation of Paul into a believer and ultimately the great evangelist.

Fresco by Michelangelo - Conversion of Saul

How did you come to a mature understanding of your faith?  For me the community of those who believe and live out the Gospel message are critical.

75 - Good News for All

Acts 10:1 - 11:18

Did Jesus just come for the Jews?  He seemed to say so, in Matthew.  But here's the risk of proof-texting:  just a few verses later he pronounces a Canaanite - a Gentile - woman's daughter healed because of her faith.

Now Peter is in Joppa, near the gentile community of Caesarea Maritima.  Cornelius, a centurion of the Roman cohort, a Gentile but a believer in the God of Israel, had a vision, a message from God, commanding him to summon Simon Peter.

Peter, in Joppa, sees his own vision of animals being lowered on a sheet.

¹³Then he heard a voice saying, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ ¹⁴But Peter said, ‘By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.’ ¹⁵The voice said to him again, a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’¹⁶This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.

 A vision, a message repeated three times...this is from God, no doubt about it.

The narrative continues in great detail, with words of praise for Cornelius, much hospitality offered and received.

Peter returns to Caesarea to Cornelius' house, preaches that the good news of Jesus is available to all in every nation who fear him and do what is right.  

The Holy Spirit came upon all who heard the word, and Peter baptized all.

He then proceeds to Jerusalem and relates the events to the Council.  Peter concludes, and the Council agrees that they should not try to hinder God, who is clearly doing a new thing.  

Peter's trance

How often has God awoken us with a new way of being church?

74 - Sharing the Word

Acts 8:26-40

Philip is the second named deacon chosen at the beginning of Acts 6, after Stephen.

He meets an Ethiopian eunuch.  "Ethiopian" could mean any dark skinned person from south of Egypt -- this man could have been from the Sudan or anywhere at the "ends of the earth."  As a eunuch he could not be a Jew, but he was so taken with the Hebrew scripture and beliefs that he had been up to Jerusalem to worship, and was reading Isaiah.

Philip follows Jesus example and direction at the end of Luke, explaining how Jesus life and death fulfilled scripture, and that this message was to be "proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem."

Philip's tool for preaching about Jesus Christ is the passage from Isaiah about the suffering servant, about which we read earlier.

Although the eunuch would not qualify for the Jewish assembly, Philip has no hesitation in agreeing to baptize him when they come to some water.  The way of Jesus is not just for the Jewish people ... it is for all nations.

Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch

Would you have been able to tell the Ethiopian about the good news?

73 - The First Martyr

Acts 6:8 - 8:8

In the opening of Acts 6, conflict between the Hellenist and the Hebrew Christians over the care of widows leads to the appointment of seven what we would today call deacons, focused on serving the poor.  Stephen, "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit," along with 6 others were chosen and had hands laid on them ("ordained").  So the first reported conflict in the church was dealt with in a sensible way.

Now in our reading today some Jewish diaspora groups (the Freedmen - former slaves, others from Africa and Asia) started stirring up trouble against Stephen, suborning perjury from some.  So he was hauled before the Council.

Stephen's speech before the Council rehearses salvation history.  Filled with the same boldness which empowered Peter, he challenges the temple leaders by suggesting that the temple is not the only place to worship God, and accusing them of conspiring to murder Jesus, "the Righteous One."

Stephen clearly had not taken a course in how to win friends and influence people.

His accusations are not well received, leading to his stoning to death.  In the crowd is Saul, of whom we will hear much more later.

Stephen being stoned

Stephen's martyrdom is celebrated on December 26.

72 - Growth and Persecution

Acts 3:1 - 4:37

Energized by Pentecost and the early response to their message of repentance and baptism, the apostle continue by healing and preaching, as Jesus did.

First Peter heals a crippled beggar "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth."

Peter follows with another sermon, invoking Jesus power, and also linking Jesus to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and also to the suffering servant in Isaiah.  Peter repeats his Pentecost message, exhorting the people to repent - to turn, or change one's mind - and turn to God.

As the new Christians will frequently do, Peter and John have upset the authorities, in this case the Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection of the dead.  They are hauled before the Council, and asked by what authority they preach and teach.

"By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified," says Peter.

Not two months earlier Peter had been denying that he even knew Jesus, much less that he was a follower.  Now he boldly proclaims that Jesus has given the power to heal, that he is the Messiah for whom the people of Israel have been waiting.

Peter and John before the Council

What if all Christians were able to speak this boldly about Jesus?

71 - Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-47

I LOVE Pentecost!

Next to the the Christmas Eve and the Easter Vigil, it is my favorite service of the year.

At the Church of the Holy Comforter it is our celebration of the Holy Spirit for whom we are named.  

The dove kite flies, usually the bishop is present to pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen and defend the young (and not so young) people being confirmed in the church.

We have incense and great music, we share in the Eucharist, and we have a marvelous reception afterwards.

It is a great celebration!

But of course we are not just celebrating the origins of our little patch of Christianity in Vienna, VA, but in fact the beginning of the Church -- how the followers of the way of Jesus picked themselves up after he was gone and did as he instructed them, to be his witnesses "to the ends of the earth."

The ends of the earth seem to be present in Jerusalem that day, and they understood the message being spoken in their native tongue -- an interesting counterpoint to the Tower of Babel, when God caused the confusion in human languages.  

Peter then addresses the crowd, linking Jesus life, teachings, death, and resurrection with prophecies from Joel, and from Psalm 16.  He presents a basic "Christology" making it clear that Jesus' teachings come from God, summarizing in v 36:  "Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."

What does it take to follow this Jesus, this Lord?

Peter spells it out very succinctly:

• Repent
• Be baptized 
• in the name of Jesus Christ
• Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

Then, it is reported they and the 3000 who were added devoted themselves to "the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers".  If this sounds familiar, please check out the baptismal covenant on page 304 of the Book of Common Prayer, right after the Apostles' Creed.

Day of Pentecost - Holy Comforter painting

What would it have been like to be part of that community?