Rev. George Miller
May 5, 2019
Acts 10:1-17
Today we enter a new era- the beginning of the Christian Church.
Through the Book of Acts we witness how the Holy Spirit takes a group of so-called common, uneducated people and uses them as witnesses of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.
We see how the church is formed, how it goes about doing ministry, and how it functions now that Jesus has been resurrected and is with them spiritually as opposed to physically.
What an adventure the disciples go on! We see how the Holy Spirit empowers them to welcome new followers and share meals.
How they upset the Temple leaders, which causes them to be persecuted and condemned, but to also experience wondrous acts of freedom.
We see how folk come together with such a passion for God and compassion for others that they sell their stuff, distribute their offerings to those in need, experience miracles, and come together to worship God.
Amidst all these signs, wonders, and acts of generosity, something rather unique takes place.
In chapter 6 it is brought to the disciples’ attention that despite all their good works, they have neglected one demographic.
There are a bunch of widows in their community who are of a different faith and a different ethnic background who are not receiving food.
Unfortunately the church pantry is failing in its duties by not feeding these widows.
So guess what the disciples do?
They call together all the members of this new church community and say “How can we fix this situation?”
They come up with a great plan of delegating responsibility.
They select 7 people, filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and assign them the task of making sure the pantry is stocked and everyone is fed, including those widows of different backgrounds.
Then they appoint others to the sole responsibility of praying and preaching.
Both tasks are viewed as valid forms of ministry, but now nobody has to get burnt-out by doing it all, plus, now there’s less of a chance of someone being neglected.
So now with that problem solved, part of the early church is busy serving and preparing meals, feeding people of all backgrounds, no matter who they are or where they are on life’s journey.
But now for church members like Peter, another issues come to light.
Sure, now he can just focus on teaching and preaching, but how can he share the Good News and make sure the message of Christ’s resurrection be spread if it requires going out into a world in which he’ll come across people from all walks of life, with different rituals and food preferences?
See, Peter was a Jew, a kosher-abiding Jew, which meant he did not eat things like pork, or shellfish, or dishes made of meat and milk.
This wasn’t a problem as long as he stayed in Jerusalem and people came to their food pantry, where they could control what they served.
But now that he’s out and about in the community, he’s noticing there’s a whole lot of Sonny Barbeques, Red Lobsters and Captain D’s lining the roads, and the gentiles sure seem to enjoy serving their meat-and-milk based casseroles.
If Peter is unable to eat the food that others eat, he cannot legitimately be an effective ends-of-the-earth witness to God’s Easter victory.
That’s the issue today’s reading addresses.
One day, in the small coastal city of Caesarea is a Roman army captain named Cornelius who is living right by the seaport. He is a man of power and influence, who has anywhere from 100-600 soldiers under him.
He is not Jewish, and neither he nor anyone in his surroundings is circumcised, and they eat whatever they want.
So living by the sea, imagine the shrimp boils they have, the unlimited crab legs they ingest, and all that surf and turf served with sides of clarified butter and cheddar bay biscuits.
Now, Cornelius is not a Jew, but he does believe in God, he does pray, and he has a generous spirit. He’s kind of like people who hang a Dream Catcher in their car and now think they are Native American.
But this does not matter to God. God says to Cornelius “Hey- there is someone I want you to meet. Send your men to get him and I’ll take it from there.”
Meanwhile, across town Peter has this wild dream in which a sheet of food sails down from the sky and a voice says “Guess what Peter! God says it is now Ok to eat anything you want!”
It’s like some surreal restructuring of Weight Watchers in which now all things have equal spiritual food points.
Peter says “No!” God says “Yes!” Peter says “No!” God says “Yes!” Peter says “No!” God says “Yes!”
Then a strange voice calls from the gate. It’s Cornelius’ messengers coming for Peter. The Holy Spirit tells Peter to welcome them in.
By the next day Peter is inside the home of the Cornelius, teaching, and preaching to the Roman guard and his entire household of uncircumcised, shrimp scampi and pork sandwich eating soldiers, slaves and family members.
The Holy Spirit falls down upon each person, they ask to be baptized, and Peter stays as their guest for a few days.
…And what do you think Peter ate, while in that Roman soldier’s home, located by the seaport in a coastal city?
If you’ve been to Baltimore, the home of Old Bay Seasoning, you would know. If you’ve been to the shores of Long Island you can start to imagine.
If you’ve been to any family reunion or cookout you can already smell, taste and see the foods.
It may not seem like a big deal to us, but for Peter being given permission to eat any and all things, is a HUGE deal, as it now frees him up to visit the homes of other Gentiles, to visit different places, and to play his part in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
See, today’s story is not just about how a Roman soldier named Cornelius came to Christ.
It is about the 1st recorded time in which Gentiles are admitted into Christian fellowship in which they can break bread, share a meal, praise God and sing songs of praise together.
We are witnessing how the Holy Spirit made sure that the “insiders” reached out to the “outsiders” and found a way to welcome all.
How God was not going to allow one’s preference for a cheeseburger or for grilled tofu to get in the way of sharing Christ with all of Creation.
Today we witness how the Christian Church began by being new. How it broke barriers, reached out to others and spoke in ways that people of their day could understand.
But we also witness something else- that although the early church was doing something so new, so exciting, so radical, that it often got them in trouble, the early church was also rooted in the very things that had always defined them.
That the Christian Church loved the Lord with all their heart and all their soul, they did unto others as they would do unto them, and they did justice, loved kindness, and walking humbly with the LORD.
Yes, the Holy Spirit was breaking in and doing miracles and giving signs, but it also did what needed to be done.
The Holy Spirit made way for Justice- when the disciples heard there were starving gentile widows not being fed, they came up with a way to make sure they too were welcomed at the pantry.
The Holy Spirit made way for Kindness- when Peter was extended an invitation, to be a guest, to speak and share with strangers, to receive their hospitality and to share their meals, he said “Yes.”
The Holy Spirit made way for Humility- even though it took 3 attempts of heavenly contact, Peter eventually listened to the voice of Spirit and the new directions he was given.
Together, all 3 things worked to ensure that the Mountain Moments of Jesus continued, that God’s disruption of death mattered, and that the victory of the LORD went beyond Easter.
Today we embark on a new era, witnessing how the Christian Church was formed, and how it was the Holy Spirit who formed it.
Today we witness and are reminded that though we are rooted to the past, we are constantly moving into the future, never knowing where we will be lead, who God will call us to minister to, and how the Holy Spirit will invite us to make Christ known.
It can be through a food pantry, it can be through a sermon, it can even be through a double bacon cheeseburger served with a side of lobster fries.
We just never know; but God sure does, and for that, let us say “Amen!”
A UCC Pastor's walk through the spiritual waters of Scripture, pop culture and life.
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