Words of Hope

Scripture

Acts 8. 20-23

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

A Word of Hope

The above passage from the Book of Acts gives us a glimpse of the Apostle Peter rebuking a person the Scripture calls Simon the Sorcerer. The story tells us of this man Simon who was well known in his village for doing amazing things. We don’t know what these things were. The term sorcerer was applied to a number of people who lived extraordinary lives compared to the average first century citizen. It was a broad term.

Extraordinary people included astrologers and astronomers such as the Magi who brought gifts to the Christ Child. “Magi” derives from the same root word as “magician”. People with high levels of education such as the ability to read were thought of in the same way; understanding the symbols of letters being in the same category as reading tea leaves or interpreting dreams. The Prophet Daniel was certainly considered a wizard in his day. The prophets Miriam, Huldah, and Anna were also members of the elite, extraordinary, even magical individuals in their eras. Acts we would categorize today as genuine magic were practiced by the Pharaoh’s court magicians and matched trick-for-trick by Moses’ brother, Aaron.

We don’t know where Simon the Sorcerer would have actually been included in the first century’s book of spells, but certainly his influence was significant and he had a legion of followers. His backstory to Peter’s harsh words involved his witnessing some of the miracles performed in Jesus’ name by the Apostles and deciding to follow the way of Jesus himself. Being completely new to the faith, one of his first requests was how he might be able to buy some of these miraculous abilities himself. The Apostle Peter, in his usual less-than-subtle style, lashed out and condemned Simon for his honest response rather than explaining that the Way of the Lord was not found in a box of magic tricks. We can only hope that Simon later was offered a more thorough Christian education by Phillip or one of the other less emotional Disciples who were also present that day.

There are many among us today, who like Simon, think that money, and often huge amounts of it, can pave their own streets of gold toward power and control in the church. We know them.

Most of them have their own cable network shows. I can visualize that their own Christian walk was probably not grounded in Jesus’ love doctrine at its very start. It is not likely that either rebuke or reason will ever change them. I am, however, grateful that there are still a lot of Phillips in the world who can teach and guide new followers of Christ that the wealth of a giving and loving spirit is an invaluable gift that can never be bought.

Prayer

Thank you for the gift of eternal grace and for the patient teachers who nurture our understanding of an honest faith.

Devotion Author

Dan Peeler
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

From Acts 8:26-40

“Upon leaving the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away sending him elsewhere to continue preaching the gospel message to others. Meanwhile, the Ethiopian saw Philip no more but continued his journey to Ethiopia.”

A Word of Hope

The Book of Acts tells us one of the Bible’s most powerful stories about answering God’s call. Jesus’ disciple, Philip, encounters an Ethiopian man, an official in his Queen’s court, reading a scroll he has bought in the market of Jerusalem. He is in his chariot headed home. The Spirit of God tells Philip to go over to his chariot and ask if he understands the prophecy he was reading. The Ethiopian asks for help as he reads a passage of prophecy about the suffering of the Messiah.

Philip explained the basis for the prophecy and related it to Jesus and his ministry to welcome people into a rich spiritual life with God. This foreign God-fearing man quickly believed in the gospel message which Philip proclaimed to him. As they progressed down the road, the Ethiopian Official spotted a small body of water and ask if Philip would baptize him. They stopped and Philip baptized him as a new believer in Christ. The above passage ends the story.

This encounter occurred a few weeks after Jesus had been crucified, resurrected and was providing his disciples living proof of that new life. All of this was very confusing and uncertain for them. As a result, they tended to group together to seek spiritual strength and comfort in this new and unfolding existence with the post-resurrection Jesus. He was no longer their constant companion and teacher, yet he seemed to be teaching them how to find within their memory of him and his work the power to commence the great task of carrying on the Jesus ministry. In the following weeks before Jesus finally left them and ascended, they would cement this bond of fellowship and begin to learn ways to reach out to others with the divine ministry started by their Master.

This example, involving Philip, begins by stating, “Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip go south on the road that goes to Gaza from Jerusalem. So, he got up and went.” The first lesson taught by Jesus was to answer when the Holy Spirit speaks to you. You don’t have to doubt the task because God will go with you. Philip made himself available and obeyed the Spirit’s voice to go and minister as directed. He didn’t know what he was getting into, but he did know he was going with the Spirit which would provide and empower his needs to achieve the task.

This lesson applies to Christians today. We may not know all the details of a divinely assigned task, but we can be sure that as we go in the Spirit’s presence, we also go with divine power. By the way, today the Ethiopian Christian church is one of the oldest forms of the Christian faith. I wonder if this eunuch had something to do with its founding.

Prayer

May we answer when the Holy Spirit speaks to us, always knowing that we don’t have to doubt the task because God will go with us.

Devotion Author

Donald (Luke) Day
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

Psalm 63:3

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

A Word of Hope

Today is “Great poetry reading Day” and is a perfect day to celebrate the poetic love of God throughout the Bible. The Bible is chock full of deep, mysterious, and reassuring language through poetic form like the Psalms, Songs of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, and Jesus’ words throughout the new testament.

The likes of Chaucer, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and William Shakespeare just to name a few, were influenced by poetry found in the bible. St. Paul’s Epiphany on love, 1 Corinthians 13, is a profound poem about love and Ecclesiastes 3 1-8 “to every season” is sung as a popular love song. Most doxologies sung in our churches come straight from the scriptures.

Some theologians surmise Bible poetry could be broken into 3 parts which include: Wisdom, understanding how the world should work for all humankind. Justice, doing what is right instead of seeking personal gain, and Lament, making a case to God to stop injustice.

When God created our endless, wonderful world out of cosmic chaos, that poetic rendition is one of the most acclaimed acts of all. Jesus was one of the most celebrated poets as he described our calling to be Christians. He used poetic words to awaken empty hearts and experience God’s everlasting peaceful love in unimaginable ways.

Jesus inspired others to love unconditionally, show mercy towards the oppressed and embrace servant living with gentle words capable of penetrating cold hearts. He knew the power of the word and worked diligently teaching his disciples to carry on the works when his physical body would no longer be present. His poetry of loving humankind is everlasting for anyone willing to read, listen and share his love.

Love poems throughout the century have been beckoning lovers, kings, and vagabonds to release the chains that bind them and openly share the love of Christ with all humankind.

Prayer

Creator God, let the poetry of your love penetrate the darkest of hearts, and fill them with the light of your love to shine for everyone, everywhere. In Jesus name, Amen.

Devotion Author

Donna Jackson

Scripture

John 8.12

I am the Light of the World.

A Word of Hope

I’m certain you have noticed quite a few lingering Christmas lights on peoples’ homes that remain even through Early April (so far). In the past, I learned about the 12 days of Christmas and left my lights up to celebrate it until January 6…but through April? I noticed this morning on my walk, someone had finally put their Christmas tree out for bulk trash. I mean, it’s better late than never in some cases, right? (Not judging here.) But what is unique about this year, I ponder? I can’t say that I blame anyone for wanting to hold onto the feeling they have around the holidays. 

Last year, the pandemic was definitely a new experience for everyone across the globe. It was a year that held a certain significance for me because if ever there was a year in which we needed to not just celebrate but to hang on to Christmas, it was 2020. Think about it. We were once again ready for the birth of that baby who brings forth the promise of hope; and maybe this time we pictured a very different “promise” Many of us were waiting for the vaccine as at least ONE of our modern promises of hope; better things to come.

However, this year the lingering Christmas lights bothered me less, if at all. I can always dig deep into my memories of Christmases from the past, centered on those simple lights on houses and trees that bring a sense of promise, optimism, before we adults conclude the reality of a bigger electric bill. I digress.  Don’t let me ruin this moment. That little tree placed out for bulk trash as an offering back to the earth is appropriate.

I’m remembering how I felt in December, savoring this simpler, less fussy holiday. I was saddened when I heard about large family gatherings that became known as “super spreaders” and an uptick in those negative consequences. Was it forgivable? For some, I can rationalize; perhaps it’s all they had. Loss of work, loss of friends and loved ones, loss of the physical presence of a church family. Those are major reasons, I suppose. Still, not judging here. I have since read about the physiological science behind the lack of human touch and connection. Of course, it affects some more than others, but that connection, ironically, is absolutely necessary at the very basic level of perpetuating the human race.

It’s now early spring and a short while past Easter. In the wake of seeing leftover Christmas trees, there are now those leftover colored Easter eggshells, which I’m walking past in a local park. DO we hold onto Easter the same way? Rather, do we hold onto the resurrection in the same way as the birth? Let’s face it, the birth was historical, the resurrection, fantastic, almost inconceivable to some.

The concept of the short 30- something years of the life of Christ seems even shorter since we have created these two specific holidays to remember him, celebrated a few scant months apart; his joyous birth in late December and then his suffering and death in March or April. Is it any surprise I don’t get nearly the same feeling when walking in a park through the leftovers from those Easter egg hunts than I experienced with the warm glow of Christmas lights?

Of course, trees with lights and bunnies and eggs, are actually pagan symbols having nothing to do with Jesus anyway, but they are indelible Christ symbols in our culture. How do you remember Jesus? What are your favorite symbols of his birth and life? Are you a“Silent Night” person or an “It is well with my soul” person? What keeps the light burning in you?

Prayer

May we perpetuate Christ’s light in the world by being that light.

Devotion Author

Charlie Rose
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

1 Corinthians 12.12-30

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. …

A Word of Hope

Red, Blue, and Green

If you spend your whole day speaking against discrimination, and if by the end of that day all of your friends look like you, then you have accomplished nothing. You have not brought together the divided. Your words did not treat the affliction. We cannot by shouting make the tree grow any taller, but we must refresh the broken limbs with water and give it light. The problem will not change with our observation, but in how we act. It is not someone else’s responsibility to do what you have had the power to do all along. It is not the police, the government, or your friends who must change but you.

Do not be a hypocrite who calls for change but refuses to do so themselves. If red stays with red, if blue stays with blue, and if green stays with green, from where then will the rainbow come? Only by mixing these colors together do we see a true diversity of colors. Likewise, if we only stay with our own kind, with those who are likeminded, and with people who are of the same class as we are, then how will discrimination end and diversity begin? We are doing the very things our adversaries do and ask, “Where is peace?”

This is the path to peace, and it must start within oneself. It cannot come from the toil and sweat of someone else. Indeed, it will not come unless we first stop discriminating and change ourselves. A little prejudice makes all prejudice possible, so if we have something against our neighbors, then we must drain out the poison before it spreads to the whole body. Only then, will our words have any credibility to them. Words without actions are useless, and if we never do anything to turn an enemy into a friend, then we have no power and we understand nothing.

Prayer

Spirit of divine love,

Let our actions speak louder than our words, let love triumph over hate, and let us come together. Amen. 

Devotion Author

Jonathon McClellan
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare