Cathedral Sermons
6th Sunday after Easter, May 9, 2010
Readings: Acts 16: 9-15; Revelation 21: 10, 22-25; John 14: 23-29
The Acts of the Apostles is the story of the early church - the story of the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Acts 1:8 gives us a key to the narrative movement and structure of this book: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” The first seven chapters narrate the spread of the gospel in Jerusalem and Judea; chapters 8-12, Samaria and the surrounding area; and the section from which today’s reading is taken, chapters 13-28, tells the story the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Today’s reading comes 6 chapters after a vision from God and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the home of Cornelius, a Gentile, convinces Peter that the message of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ was not only for the Jews, but also for the gentiles, and immediately after the Council of Jerusalem agreed to the inclusion of Gentiles within Christian community with only minimal religious requirements.
As Howard explained to us last week Peter’s experience with Cornelius was a turning point - the beginning of the mission to non-Jewish people from which Christians around the world have benefited ever since. It is also a challenge to us about who we include in our Christian communities. Today’s reading, marks another turning point – the spread of the gospel into Europe.
The context of today’s story is a world away from 21st century Auckland. So I invite you come with me back to the first century where we meet Paul trying to work out what God is calling him and his companions to do next.
“That was a difficult time for us. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark as we returned to visit the churches throughout Asia. But I didn’t want to take someone who had deserted us earlier. Our journeys were long and hard. We needed to know that you could rely on your companions. I was terribly sad when Barnabas took John Mark and headed to Cyprus. But there was nothing I could do. The other believers commended us to the grace of God and Silas and I went through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches. Though the churches were growing in number and in strength I still felt a bit lost. We were trying to work out where God would have us go next. Timothy joined us. We thought about going through Asia but the Spirit would not allow it. We tried another route, but still the Spirit of Jesus prevented us. So we ended up in Troas. Which way then, were we to go? That night I had a vision. I saw a man from Macedonia, he was asking us to come and help. There was a sense of desperation in his voice as he pleaded. We all agreed that God was calling up to proclaim the good news in Macedonia. God had opened the door for us to go into this great Roman province in northern Greece.
Our own planning for the spread of the gospel had fallen through, but once again, God was guiding our journey. We were willing to obey.
We set sail for Samothrance and then on to Neapolis. Our trip took a number of days. We had favorable winds as we covered the 125 miles. The last part of our journey was only 10 miles by road to Philippi.
It was a wealthy city on a fertile plain with copper, silver and gold deposits. As a Roman colony the people of Phillipi received all the benefits of a roman city itself. So strong was the Roman influence that there was very little Jewish presence there.
So there we were in Philippi. We had no idea at the time of course, how important the church would become to us in the future. How supportive they would be when we were in prison.
That sabbath morning we went in search of a synagogue. What we found instead was a group of devout women worshiping God beside the river. They were gentiles, but they had learn about the Lord God and were worshiping.
It was here that I met a woman named Lydia. She told us she was a business woman – selling purple cloth. So we knew she was wealthy and mixed with elite members of this Roman city. I later discovered she was head of her household. A remarkable woman, intelligent and interested in what we had to day. She listened intently. We shared with Lydia and her friends the good news of Christ. Lydia’s heart was opened by God. She heard our message.
She was baptised together with all of her household. Oh, it was a wonderful day. She opened her home to us, saying, if you judge me to be faithful come and stay. Such was her hospitality and her generosity of heart, we were utterly convinced of her faith and her understanding of Jesus.
We returned sometime later, after we were released from prison. So many people were afraid to associate with us, but once again Lydia, opened her home to us and took us in.
There is much in this story I think to inspire and challenge us as a church today. As our General Synod meets in Gisbourne this week and as we as a cathedral community await the appointment and arrival of a new Dean, there is inspiration for us in Paul and Lydia’s story.
Paul and his companions were unsure which way to go. They pushed a few doors, but they remained firmly closed. But Paul was still open to and ready for a vision – a perception of reality outside the ordinary beyond all conventionalism. He not tied to what he had done before, so when God inspired a new direction he and his companions were willing to step out in faith. Are we as a church, as a Cathedral community, ready and open to see and heard God’s guidance to us? Are we free from what had gone before and open to a new direction if it is to be given to us by God? Are we willing to ponder what is taking place, seeking response and input from others, gathering corporate wisdom.
Just as God calls Paul, Silas and Timothy out of their comfort zone I believe God calls us, collectively and individually out of our comfort zone to challenge us to growth and development. Both in terms of how we live out our faith and in terms of the challenge to share it.
God sends Paul and his companions into unchartered territory for the early church, into Europe – and to the first European converts… a group of women!
We are not told in this text exactly what Paul said when he preached. But Walter Breuggeman summarises Paul’s message based on his preaching elsewhere and his writing in the epistles… That in Jesus of Nazareth, the world has become upon to God’s generosity. Paul’s listeners are invited to generosity based on God’s bottomless mercy.
Lydia heart was opened by God. She listened eagerly. She responded to what she heard, was baptised and opened her home. She responds with obedience to Jesus example of generous hospitality both on this occasion and later.
God calls us to open our hearts. Not to be troubled or afraid. God calls us to be open to the message of the gospel and to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God call us, in Jesus to offer generous hospitality.
Paul and Lydia were in different places but when God offers guidance and direction each was ready and open to respond. Are you open? Are we ready and willing to respond?