Today’s post is introducing something new. Take a look at the new page called Daily where I offer resources for daily prayer and scripture. On Tuesday and Thursdays I’ll post brief reflections on the readings for those days taken from the Daily Reading lectionary (not the daily office lectionary). Please take a moment to look around my site at some changes and updates I’ve made and let me know what you think. And, yes, I will continue to post my sermons from the Sunday Lectionary readings each week. If you’d like to get an email when I do post, please subscribe (if you haven’t already). May I also ask you to share my blog with others? Thank you! Now, on to today’s reflection.
(Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 89:5-37, Acts 8:4-13)
It’s not long after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. The followers of Jesus are doing life together trying to figure out what it is to follow a risen messiah who is no longer physically present with them. The temple leaders are still trying to silence them. Stephen, the first martyr has been killed. Paul is still Saul and has yet to experience his conversion and is going door to door, dragging out men and women and throwing them in prison. Many believers left Jerusalem and scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, proclaiming the Good News of God’s love for all people.
While in Samaria, Philip draws crowds with his preaching and healing and casting out of unclean spirits. Before Philip arrived the man of the town was a man of magic, but not a magician as we would think of them now. He didn’t get famous by pulling rabbits out of hats or doing slick card tricks or escaping from deep water while handcuffed into a straight jacket. Magicians in first century Palestine were sorcerers and false prophets who tried to demonstrate divine power by trickery. The people of Samaria were amazed by Simon’s trickery. Until they listened to Philip. What makes this so amazing is that the people of Samaria considered Jews their enemy (and, yes, vice versa). This is what made Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan so radical. And Philip was willing to share the love of God with them and they were willing to listen to and believe in Jesus and be baptized.
We don’t have the words of Philip’s sermons but perhaps he shared the words that God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah that we also read today: “before I formed you in the womb I knew you and before you were born I consecrated you.” Perhaps Philip told them how from the dawn of time that God desired to be in loving relationship with all people, not just a select few. Perhaps Philip told them that they too, were beloved children of God and how Jesus showed us how to live in God’s Kingdom here on earth and that they were joint heirs of this Kingdom built of love and mercy and justice. I wonder if Philip shared the words of Psalm 89 proclaiming God’s glory over all the earth and then told them of Jesus’ own baptism and the voice of God saying “you are my beloved”.
When was the last time you were amazed by the stories of scripture? When was the last time you were willing to share something amazing with or listen to someone who culture says should be your enemy? God does amazing things when we can see others as beloved of God.
Mother Nancy's Coffee Thoughts 