Monthly Archives: April 2009

Reflecting on Acts 3:13-15

Peter preaching to the crowds

We got a subscription to Netflix for Christmas, and we’ve watched way too many movies ever since.  Lately we’ve been mesmerized by the many documentaries on World War II, especially the ones coming out of Germany.  What do the old people say now about their steadfast loyalty to Hitler, even as it became obvious that the war was lost? What could you do? You went along.  Everybody seemed to love him.  You assumed everyone knew more about things than you did.  Everyone was cheering and saluting.  You got caught up.

In today’s first reading Peter, filled with Pentecost spirit, encourages the crowd gathered in Jerusalem to forgive themselves for demanding the death of Jesus, even as Pilate was ready to release him.  “You acted out of ignorance,” he says.  What behaviors and attitudes still drive us, even in Easter light, even as evidence of the resurrected Christ abounds?  Lord, let Your face shine upon us.  Open our minds to understand the Scriptures.

Think about this question this week, at the beginning of a meeting or just in conversation with yourself and others.

Sharing God’s Word at Home:

What conviction did I used to hold that I now regret?

image via Wikipedia

Reflections on Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

Hmm.  That’s quite a business model.  The first reading today (from the Acts of the Apostles, of course, since we’re finally in the Easter season) reports that those earliest Christians, those eye-witnesses to the events of Holy Week, were so changed by the resurrection and coming of the Spirit that they abandoned Basic Economics and began to share everything in common, even selling their property and giving the proceeds to the apostles for distribution among the believers.

Gulp.  I’m going to need more than an empty tomb and reports of the presence of the risen Lord in our midst to get me to cough up what’s left of my 401K.  I’ll need to touch His wounds and feel His side and ask Him directly if He really can be trusted if I give it all away. Were I a perfect child of God the answer would be clear, but until then here’s my question for myself and for you:

Sharing God’s Word at Home:

How is “trusting God” working for you so far?