Eastertide

April 26, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ –Acts 9:10-20

I am currently reading N. T. Wright’s Paul: A Biography where Wright picks out what the Bible tells us about Paul, reads a bit between the lines of Paul’s letters, and tosses in some history of the times Paul wrote. It is very good. Paul started out life as, Saul of Tarsus who already had a reputation of being tough on Christians, who at that time were considered part of the Jewish religion. Saul, indeed, had the blessings of the official Jewish faith leaders of the time to correct the erring ways of this group. One cannot blame Ananias for being hesitant to help Saul. Yet, the Lord assured Ananias it was necessary and so it was.

As I read the above scripture and considered Paul’s biography, I realized how much we share some of the same challenges Paul dealt with in introducing Jesus Christ to the gentiles. I am reminded of the varied systems of belief among those who Identify as Christians today. Indeed, we have had 2000 years on which to build our faith, but we remain miles apart when turning our faith into action. Two thoughts come to mind. First diversity and inclusion are necessary, not contradictory. Second, evil is still striving to break the strength of being one in God by using the divide and conquer method aimed at breaking the bonds of love celebrated in diversity and inclusion.

Prayer: Lord, strengthen our whole beings to stand against divide and conquer strategies used to separate us from your love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.