This blog provides a meditation on the Episcopal daily readings along with a headline from world news:
How to let off steam-rugby gives example to the world
Glasgow v Ulster
Acts 28:17-31
Paul and Jewish Leaders in Rome
17 Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, ‘Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.18When they had examined me, the Romans* wanted to release me, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to the emperor—even though I had no charge to bring against my nation.20For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you,* since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.’21They replied, ‘We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you.22But we would like to hear from you what you think, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.’
Paul Preaches in Rome
23 After they had fixed a day to meet him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets.24Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe.25So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: ‘The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,
26 “Go to this people and say,
You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.”
28Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.’*
30 He lived there for two whole years at his own expense* and welcomed all who came to him,31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
There’s no doubt that wherever he went, Paul took his gospel firstly to his fellow Jews, if there were any, in that place. He and his message were often well-received, as indeed was the case in Rome. Luke however decides to use a bible saying, which Jesus himself used of those who rejected his parables. The difficulty is that here it is used to justify closing activity with Jews and turning to Gentiles. In his own authentic letters Paul struggles with the fact that his own people has not as a nation accepted the gospel. He looks forward to a day when it will do so. Meanwhile he respects its choice. The cut- and -dried tone of Luke’s narrative at this point doesn’t do justice to the first missions of the church into Gentile territory which obviously attracted Jews as well as gentiles.
“hear, but never understand”: Food distribution in Athens
Isaiah’s words, which dramatise God’s ironical expression of his hurt astonishment that his people won’t listen to his Word (” it’s almost as if by telling you the truth I’d made it impossible for you to hear it”), should properly be applied to all people blinded and deafened by their own arrogance. (The spectacle of the impoverishment of half the world’s population ought to have warned the affluent nations that unbridled capitalism does not work. They couldn’t hear that warning although it was faithfully issued by many of God’s prophets, like for example, Christian Aid. Now with the impoverishment of formerly affluent nations and sections even of those that retain affluence, there is still a tendency to blame the victims and reward the culprits.)
Luke saw the Christian communities as offering a permanent critique of the injustice and idolatry of the Roman world by their faith in God and their life of just sharing.This, as much as the preaching of the apostles, gave the “faith of Jesus” a foothold amongst the gentiles. In this section of his story, however, he wants to celebrate the legacy of Paul.
Luke 9:37-50
Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon
37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.38Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child.39Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he* shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him.40I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’41Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’42While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.43And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
Jesus Again Foretells His Death
While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples,44‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.’45But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
True Greatness
46 An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest.47But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side,48and said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.’
Another Exorcist
49 John answered, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.’50But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.’
rescuing a wounded girl from Beirut explosion
Firstly Luke gives us the story of how Jesus channels the goodness of God, which had transfigured his body on the mountain, towards the most needy person. He does so with some exasperation as he wants them to do this for themselves. God’s goodness can be channeled by anyone who has faith. The crowd understands this for rather than making Jesus a hero,”they are astounded at the greatness of God.” The Baal Shem ,the great 18th century Hasidic Rabbi, once asked, “How do we know that Elijah is the greatest of all prophets?” and he answered his own question, “Because when he defeated the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, we are told that the people did not cry “Great is Elijah” but rather, “Great is the Lord.”
Luke then tells us how Jesus, the beloved Son of God, is going to lead the exodus (see bible blog 859, 860) of God’s people into new life and freedom: he is going to be rejected and killed. In Luke’s gospel “Son of Man” is the title of Jesus as leader of the “new exodus community”. It has the sense of a corporate identity which includes all who share Jesus’ way. Jesus’ words signal danger for his disciples and they refuse to hear them in their arrogance. This arrogance is immediately demonstrated by their competition for status which Jesus answers by his demonstration that the one who welcomes a child, welcomes God. Even then, the disciples want to emphasise their privileged position in the “rule of God” by stopping others who claim God’s goodness through Jesus. Jesus emphasises that they’ll need all the help they can get.
We learn from this passage that Luke sees the new exodus as God’s goodness breaking out into the world through the ministry of Jesus and his disciples. It will bring suffering rather than glory to them and can only be accomplished by those who have rid themselves of personal ambition and sectarian pride.
In a week in the UK when our media were full of the terrible story of the late Jimmy Savile, revealed as a predatory paedophile through the stories of his victims, it would be good if the Christian churches could offer themselves as communities that welcome children and keep them safe. Although of course there have been exceptions I believe that they are; and that along with many youth organisations they have gone to endless trouble to combine their ministry to children with the strictest forms of child protection. They have made the ministry of Jesus relevant to the changing conditions of society.
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