Amazing!

One evening, Denise and I were driving back from Grayton Beach and we saw this amazing site as the sun was going down over Choctawhatchee Bay on Hwy 331. We literally pulled over to the shoulder so that we could get out and capture this moment. I know that have seen more sunsets than I can count and I have the pictures to prove it! Each sunset has its own particular beauty, but this one was obviously different. The clouds, the sun, and the reflection on the bay all came together to present this cool image of a cross. It was, in a word, amazing! When we both posted the picture on FaceBook after we got home lots of our friends were simply amazed and wowed by the picture.

From a photographer’s perspective, the elements all came together to provide an incredible photo opportunity. The picture captured the coming together of sunlight, cloud cover, and water to create this stunning image. All of these elements came together to form the image of a cross. We could not have planned this picture by ourselves at all. God had to be in the mix and God was in the mix! It wasn’t us at all… We were simply blessed to be in the right place at the right time with a camera to see and capture this image.

That is what happened from my perspective in this Sunday’s reading from Acts 10:44-48. Even though this event is placed in the book of Acts after the Pentecost event in chapter 2, we are reading it during the Easter season and before Pentecost. Some commentators call the events of Acts 10:44-48 a mini-Pentecost. While I understand that thought, for those who were involved, it was not a mini event at all. It was a seismic event in the lives of those who heard Peter preaching in Caesarea.

To put it into context though, we need to look back to the beginning of chapter 10. A Centurion of the Italian Cohort (Roman Legion) named Cornelius, who was a devout man who prayed constantly to God, had a vision. An Angel of the Lord told Cornelius to send for a certain man named Simon who is called Peter. So Cornelius sent two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks to bring Simon Peter to him as the Lord had commanded.

Do you realize how strange this was? First of all, we have a Roman Centurion named Cornelius. This man isn’t exactly your run of the mill soldier. He was in charge of 480 soldiers and was himself a professional soldier. He wasn’t a conscript, he was a professional trusted by Rome with a large unit of soldiers. But what is really strange about this is the fact that this professional soldier, trusted by Rome, wasn’t an Emperor worshiper. He was, instead, a believer! He followed Jewish piety, praying constantly to God and giving alms generously to the people. While he hadn’t embraced Judaism completely (he wasn’t circumcised), he was following the spirit of the faith.

So there you have it! A non-Jewish Roman leader worshiping and giving alms like a devout Jew. The Roman soldier, whose job it was to keep the peace and swear allegiance to the Emperor, worshiping the God of the Empire’s slaves. But the story becomes even wilder! He sends two slaves and a soldier to find the leader of this group of Jews who followed the man named Jesus whom they claimed was the Messiah.

But wait, the story gets even crazier! As the slaves and the soldier sent by Cornelius approached Joppa where Simon Peter was staying, Peter went up to the roof to pray. Peter, a devout Jew who followed the laws of Judaism was about to have his life turned upside down again. In the vision of the holy picnic, as Denise calls it, Peter was presented with all kinds of four footed creatures and reptiles and birds on the picnic cloth. Then he heard a voice tell him to kill and eat. “Wait, Lord, I can’t do that! These animals are unclean and I am an observant Jew!” After a short argument (Peter is, after all, the strong headed one who sometimes needs a divine smack on the back of the head to get his attention), he finally listens as God says “what I have made clean, you must not call profane.” Three times Peter argued, and three times the Lord responded. Do you see the irony? Peter denied Christ three times before the rooster crowed. Peter was asked three times by the risen Lord, “do you love me?” Anyway, Peter finally got the point and the picnic cloth returned to heaven. “Okay, Lord, so now what do I do with this vision? Am I supposed to order myself a Mutton, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich?”

It all began to come together when Cornelius’s slaves and the soldier brought Peter to their master. At first, Cornelius fell at Peter’s feet and began to worship him. Peter, embarrassed by this display, told Cornelius to get up… “Don’t worship me, I am only a man just like you. I am not God!” Peter, with his vision of the holy picnic still fresh in his mind, said, “You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?” (10:25-29)

There you have it… A Roman Centurion who worships in the Jewish way and a Jewish leader who up until that point probably had nothing good to say about the Romans are together. And the Holy Spirit is in the midst of these two supposed enemies. The message of the holy picnic and Cornelius’ dream are coming together and making sense. Then Peter begins to tell the gathered people about Jesus and how God had sent Jesus to preach the message of peace to the people of Israel AND that God has revealed to Peter that this same message is now to be shared with the larger Gentile world.

At that moment, as Peter was preaching, the Holy Spirit fell upon the gathered group, Jews and Gentiles, and they began to speak in tongues and praise God. The circumcised believers, were astounded that the Holy Spirit would touch these Gentiles! How can this be? They aren’t like us! They aren’t circumcised! They don’t deserve to have the Holy Spirit fall upon them!

That’s the amazing thing about God’s grace though, isn’t it? We don’t decide who is worthy, God does! Worlds were turned upside down and lives were changed because God overturned the rules and regulations of the religious elite. Peter exclaims: “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (Acts 10:47)

Just as the picture at the top of this blog reveals how so much came together to create the image of the cross, so to does this story reveal how so much came together to break down barriers and draw God’s children together. I believe that this story is playing out again today in the church.

Recently I received a phone call from a couple who wanted to get married. Walton County in Florida where I work and live will issue marriage licenses but no longer provides marriage ceremonies at the Court House. This couple wants to get married as is their legal right in the state of Florida. This couple, who share a belief in Jesus have been shunned and turned away from the church. Why? Because this couple is not a man and a woman.

They did, however, find a retired AF Padre, who has had his own holy picnic experience. They found a pastor who is a part of a denomination who will allow their clergy to perform marriage ceremonies between two individuals, regardless of sexual orientation. After we met, I could see the visible relief on their faces and and feel it in their hugs. We are welcome to the Lord’s table?

A lot had to come together for this meeting to happen. Just as the sunset, clouds, and bay had to come together to produce the amazing picture at the top of the blog… just as the visions of Cornelius and Peter had to come together with a healthy dose of the Holy Spirit… just as this Padre had the Holy Spirit working on his heart and in his life over the past 32 years of seminary and ministry experience… a lot did happen. And for that, I thank God!