Friends, you may recall having either heard me via podcast or read in a Gospel reflection that I am an unabashed believer in the Gospel and that daily reading of Scripture is a must as it opens up a new and incredible world to us. I just don't believe, with all of our God-given intellect, that we could write anything that comes close to what the Scriptures give us. We can't because Scripture is the inspired Word of God. He is God. We are not.
Now, here we are after the Easter celebration, and while we are still in the Easter Season leading up to Pentecost, we have in yesterday's and today's 2 readings from the Acts of the Apostles excellent examples of transformation. I like to look at Acts this way; What were the Apostles up to, and what were their actions or acts after the Resurrection?
What is revealed in Acts are many examples of transformation. Their lives, as detailed in Acts, in no way resembled their past. What really changed them? What gave them the bravado to preach without concern for their lives? It was the victory over death. This was and is the cause cé·lè·bre, the event above all events that created great public attention. It was the Resurrection.
This brings me to today's and yesterday's first readings from Acts and the former tent maker and terror of Christians, Paul. Paul may well be our best example of transformation. Paul, or Saul as he was known prior to his conversion, literally dragged people from their homes to be executed for the crime of believing in and attempting to follow Jesus.
Paul's was transformed alright! His preaching in Philippi, a message of redeeming love through one person, Jesus, was threatening to many in that society. His non-violent message gets him thrown in prison along with his fellow disciple, Silas. In Acts 16:22-34, we read that they were stripped and beaten with rods. It's not hard to understand that they were not welcomed in Philippi but the so-called fine print in Acts is that 1.) they were thrown into the innermost cell with a guard to watch them, 2.) their feet were tied to a stake, and 3.) there was an earthquake.
This quake was the work of Paul, Silas, and the Lord, and here is the incredible part. Paul and Silas, in the dungeon with their feet fixed to chains, choose to rejoice. They could not shuffle their feet if they wanted to but incredibly they were not screaming for help. Being chained did not prevent them from singing but what caused them to sing?
If we are chained, what is our response? What would we have done in that prison? Would we be shouting of the injustices? Not Paul and Silas. They were found at midnight singing hymns to God. Singing hymns and praying. When do we pray and sing hymns of praise; when all is well or only when we really, REALLY need God to intervene?
The guard whose responsibility it was to make sure no one came in or came out of that prison, was transformed. He was the one who found Paul and Silas praying as opposed to sleeping or protesting. He then witnesses the earthquake which resulted in the chains being broken and the doors of the prison being flung open. Paul and Silas are so confident in God as their Savior that they did not flee through the now-open doors but rather they stayed and allowed this new disciple, the jailer, to escort them out. And here is where I about screamed, "Get the ________ out of there", as I read this. Would you offer the same advice about freedom? To run from your captors? Freedom is what Paul and Silas already had. We have it too.
The earthquake was significant for Paul's work was not done. The innermost cell and chains were nothing for God and God will have His way!
In Acts 17 from today's reading, Paul moved on from Philippi and is in Athens, a people who know of "a God" but their worship needs some correction (side note: Paul traveled an estimated 10,000 miles to preach the Gospel!).
Paul encounters the Athenians and noticed an inscription on an altar that states that they are worshiping an "unknown God". But Paul declares that their shrines do not hold God; that God does not need us to serve Him and He alone is responsible for everything we have, all gifts. It isn't enough that God showers us with these innumerable gifts and grace but, Paul adds, God wants, no He demands that we repent but not for His benefit but ours.
God knows what we tend to do with His gifts, like a toddler who rips the shiny wrapping off a birthday gift, we see the gift and promptly toss it aside.
Paul reminds the Athenians as he reminds us that God is demanding in this respect; He wants all people to repent for a day of judgment has been established.
Paul's message was not accepted by all. He trekked thousands of miles so that people could hear the Good News and be saved. He did this for them. He was passionate and determined that the news of salvation had to be spread. This "other way" became aptly known simply as, The Way.
Really nothing has changed, has it? Some accept The Way and some do not. Some worship and some do not. Some so hate the Good News that they work at squelching even the name of God, the name of Jesus, for fear that anything that resembles religion is evocative of less freedom.
And us? We are to be like Paul. We are to preach. We are to pray. We are to sing hymns in all circumstances, even in prison!
"Prayer begins by talking to God, but it ends by listening to Him." - Fulton Sheen
Peace to you,
Peace to you,
John
