Easter 3
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
-- Acts 9:5-6
While the church is locked in a battle about ordination standards and who is acceptable and who is not, it is instructive to reflect on this famous story of God's call to Paul. Paul could be appropriately called a zealot in his efforts to destroy the segment of Judaism that called themselves the people of the way. If Jesus was indeed the Christ, then despite his sincerity, it is clear that Paul was in direct opposition to the way of God. Being honest and sincere can simply mean that you are honestly and sincerely in the wrong.
The second aspect of this story that is so shocking is the strange way of God. God seems to have a habit of choosing people that, for all the appropriate reasons, we would be forced to conclude are unacceptable. It should cause us to be cautious about being too certain about who God calls to the ministry. Third, there is no evidence to suggest that Paul was questioning his understanding of the truth. When the light struck him down, he recognized a power in his presence, but he showed no recognition of who it might be. " 'Who are you, Lord?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.' " Once Jesus had announced who he was, he did not ask for belief but only obedience. "But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
Sometimes it is only through obedience that we come to faith. This is reinforced by the response of Ananias who was called to go and meet Saul. While Ananias did not understand and even objected to the assignment, the important thing was that he obeyed. Is it part of Luke's irony that Saul was staying at the house of Judas? This is not to suggest that it was the same Judas who betrayed Jesus, but the name may have been intentionally used to remind the hearer of that betrayal. In the same way that God could use the betrayal of Jesus for salvation, so now he could use this fierce opponent of the way to expand the way out into the world.
Finally, it is important to note that Saul's ability to proclaim the gospel occurred only after he was shown the hospitality of the faith community. "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.' " Perhaps the issue of ordination will best be resolved through the exercise of hospitality.
-- Acts 9:5-6
While the church is locked in a battle about ordination standards and who is acceptable and who is not, it is instructive to reflect on this famous story of God's call to Paul. Paul could be appropriately called a zealot in his efforts to destroy the segment of Judaism that called themselves the people of the way. If Jesus was indeed the Christ, then despite his sincerity, it is clear that Paul was in direct opposition to the way of God. Being honest and sincere can simply mean that you are honestly and sincerely in the wrong.
The second aspect of this story that is so shocking is the strange way of God. God seems to have a habit of choosing people that, for all the appropriate reasons, we would be forced to conclude are unacceptable. It should cause us to be cautious about being too certain about who God calls to the ministry. Third, there is no evidence to suggest that Paul was questioning his understanding of the truth. When the light struck him down, he recognized a power in his presence, but he showed no recognition of who it might be. " 'Who are you, Lord?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.' " Once Jesus had announced who he was, he did not ask for belief but only obedience. "But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
Sometimes it is only through obedience that we come to faith. This is reinforced by the response of Ananias who was called to go and meet Saul. While Ananias did not understand and even objected to the assignment, the important thing was that he obeyed. Is it part of Luke's irony that Saul was staying at the house of Judas? This is not to suggest that it was the same Judas who betrayed Jesus, but the name may have been intentionally used to remind the hearer of that betrayal. In the same way that God could use the betrayal of Jesus for salvation, so now he could use this fierce opponent of the way to expand the way out into the world.
Finally, it is important to note that Saul's ability to proclaim the gospel occurred only after he was shown the hospitality of the faith community. "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.' " Perhaps the issue of ordination will best be resolved through the exercise of hospitality.
