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spring 2010

worship & spiritual life
Dear Reader...

by Malinda Snow

As you listen to readings during May, note that the first lesson, in four out of the five Sundays, is not from the Old Testament but is instead from Acts. This reading of Acts marks the Great Fifty Days of Easter and indicates the emphasis on post-Resurrection events in the lives of the followers of Jesus. Sitting down and reading all the Acts lessons in order would make sense, as part of your preparation. Begin with the Pentecost story from Chapter 2 and work forward. As you get to Chapter 16, you will see that the point of view changes from a third-person narrator to a first-person narrator, whom biblical scholars believe to be Luke, the apparent author of this book and of the Gospel according to Luke.

Luke is no focal character, however. The two major figures are Sts. Peter and Paul, and numbers of others play a role as well. Some of these others, such as Silas, Timothy, and Lydia, became followers of Jesus and leaders in their communities of believers.

The Book of Acts opens by describing Jesus' ascension, and this scene is strongly present throughout the remainder of the book. Jesus is not here. He is gone, and his followers remain gaping, staring, in the middle of the road. Their utter surprise and the acute emptiness they feel because of Jesus' absence raise questions. What will they do? In the absence of Jesus, how will they navigate? As we recall from the Gospels, Jesus has become the spiritual focal point of their lives; he has also led and planned and taught, permitting them to follow and to carry on as planned, as they are instructed. And now he is gone.

We are of course in something of the same position, we who come later. Although we did not experience Jesus' company and teaching, we have experienced Jesus' absence. He is not here. What roles shall we play? What shall we do? What will our acts (our Acts) be?

The first thing the disciples do, after electing a replacement for Judas Iscariot, is to go into a room by themselves. Perhaps they are taking refuge. Perhaps they are meeting to ask, "What now?" At any rate, they are all in one room when a mighty storm disrupts their retreat. We have to take the storm as a metaphor, this noisy wind with tongues of flame, but metaphor or not, it pushes all the disciples out of their closed room. To recall a theme from last month, it moves the stone that blocks the door. It brings the disciples into contact with new people and pushes them to find ways to include those new people in their community. The message of Pentecost, in fact—the message of the Holy Spirit—is that we must make community. Gentiles and Jews, men and women—all these people find their way into the circle of the church as it establishes itself; all belong. Both the new people and the disciples seem somewhat surprised at this change: all belong. Such experiences as Peter's dream and Paul and Silas's adventure in the jail emphasize belonging.

To understand the Acts narratives, we need to put ourselves in the place of the disciples. Have we shut ourselves into a room, feeling uncertain about the future, lacking confidence that we can grow into the next stage of our lives as individuals and as the church? The Holy Spirit waits with a veritable storm of strength, stamina, and skill. It brings us in contact with new people, new opportunities. These opportunities may send us to new places and face us with new people. All the major players in the Book of Acts found themselves able, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, to meet and accept all the newness. Today the newness is still present; the next stage still awaits. And so does the Holy Spirit, still possessing strength and stamina and skill for us. In many ways, from Easter to Pentecost is a more difficult move than that from Good Friday to Easter. Our Acts readings showcase the remarkable men and women who were first to make that move.

All best to you —

Malinda