Morning Devotion for the Season after Pentecost
August 30, 2024
Invitatory
Be still, then, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
Acts 10: 44-48
While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
Meditation-Rebecca Northington
One of the strongest themes of Christianity is inclusion; ironic, as it is such a politicized word today. We talk about it generally in our tradition, but we don’t always explore where it comes from and exactly how the disciples understood it. Jesus certainly taught that the tax collector and the prostitute, those whom society rejected, were worthy of our love and forgiveness in equal measure. This alone was counter cultural and conflicted with many of the laws that kept folks clean and holy, as well as socially acceptable. But for the most part, throughout the Gospels, Jesus is preaching to his people: to Jews. What has to get worked out after Jesus is crucified is how universal is this message of God’s love and forgiveness, eternal life and salvation. Who has access to it?
This small section from Acts is a dramatically clarifying text, along with much of Acts and also Paul’s letters. It reminds us that Christianity is accessible to all people, not just Jews. It rejects the Jewish law as a prerequisite to God’s love. (The “circumcised believers” represent the law-abiding Jews.) And points to faith, our faith, through which all are welcome, and may receive the Holy Spirit. And in this passage I believe Peter is asking, who are we to determine another person's faith? It’s a relevant question today. Who are we to determine what another person believes in?
I have been chewing on this passage in terms of the coming months. How quickly we judge one another and our political associations and convictions, rather than remembering this key component of Christianity: inclusion. The opposite of which is exclusion-exactly what we do to our political adversaries. The landscape divides us. Media and journalism divides us. Social media divides us. Our families and communities are divided. We resort to a primal and tribal mentality and forget what it is Jesus came to disturb and disrupt-division and judgment. I am exhausted by this division. I love my friends and family members who have different politics than I do. I want this fall to be different. So while you may not understand your neighbors stance, and may feel you get to question their worthiness or humanity, try to pause, as Peter did. Because only God knows.
I hope this season we can ask good, open-ended questions that might help us to understand our neighbor, and ourselves, a little better. Because not everyone has to be circumcised to be offered God’s grace and love; we don’t have to follow exactly the same rules to break bread together. Simply said, I believe this passage asks us to reach out to one another in human brotherhood and sisterhood, rather than looking over our shoulder in judgment or doubt. It asks us to be inclusive. I hope we can ask good questions in the coming weeks and months, and support, or at least not judge, the answers, through our own sense of love and humanity; and our own sense of faith.
A Prayer of Desmond Tutu
Goodness is stronger than evil.
Love is stronger than hate.
Light is stronger than darkness.
Life is stronger than death.
Victory is ours through Him who loves us.
Amen.
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