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Who Are You, Lord?

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“Who Are You, Lord?”

Acts 9:1-9 (9:5) – May 4, 2025

            Sometimes, asking good questions is difficult.

In the 1400’s and 1500’s, the astronomers in Europe were discovering wonderful things about our solar system. It wasn’t until 1543 that astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus asked, “Could it be that the Earth orbits the Sun?” This was a dangerous question to ask, in his time. Common knowledge and expert opinion were in agreement, in the 1500’s: the Earth was the center of everything. However – Copernicus had the courage to ask this simple—and profound—question, which turned the scientific community on its heads, and changed the world.

            We turn to our Scripture reading for today. Acts chapter 9. Saul, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, was one of the chief persecutors of the early Church in the area of Jerusalem. He had been a witness to the stoning of Stephen, a short time before this reading today. Saul’s zeal in pursuing these “Jewish heretics,” these followers of “The Way” had become legendary. Let me read the Acts passage from an excellent translation by J.B. Phillips.

“1-2 But Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest and begged him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he should find there any followers of the Way, whether men or women, he could bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners.”

That was the situation. Saul was filled with religious zeal! It wasn’t enough that he had been instrumental in kicking out most of the believers and breaking up the Jerusalem church. He was going to round up these Jewish heretics in Damascus! These false believers! And, extradite them. Bring them back to face the Chief Priest and the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.

Who was Saul, anyway? Born a Roman citizen in Asia Minor, he was one of the graduates of the equivalent of an Ivy League school—the University of Tarsus, one of the finest universities of the first century. As far as knowledge and book learning was concerned? Saul had it, in abundance! He was trained as a Pharisee, in every aspect of the Jewish religion. And, he was on fire to haul in every upstart Jewish heretic he could lay his hands on!

Just like the scientific establishment in the 1500’s, Saul knew he was right, and nothing could make him swerve from his desire, his zeal to see justice done. Let’s go back to our reading from Acts. “3-4 On his journey, as Saul neared Damascus, a light from Heaven suddenly blazed around him, and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice speaking to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?””

Wait a minute! Saul is one of the top religious law-followers in Jerusalem. Bam! Here is a clear, Heavenly event happening to Saul. You might have heard about “a Damascus road experience,” meaning a sudden, dramatic conversion experience. This is it. Right here, right now. Paul’s—I mean, Saul’s dramatic conversion experience. This Greek word, an imperative verb in verse 3, is often omitted in translations. Literally, egeneto! One of Dr. Luke’s favorite words: “Then, it happens!” Another way of saying, “WHAM!” This word signals the surprising entry of God into ordinary, every-day events! We see a light flash around Saul.

The risen Lord Jesus also calls twice: “Saul, Saul!” I have a suspicion that Saul immediately “got it.” The mental puzzle pieces started falling into place. Saul finally asked a really good question:  “Who are you, Lord?”

Isn’t that the way it is with you or with me, sometimes? Here we are, headed down Life Road, going about our business. When, boom! A huge event happens. Maybe not as serious as Paul’s Damascus Road encounter, but all the same, earth-shaking. It could be something that happens to our health, or our jobs, an accident, or some type of traumatic happening. Or, if it doesn’t happen to us, it happens to one of our loved ones, or our best friend. Even if it’s something really fantastic, it can still be earth-shaking. Just as much of a shift or change in life.

Similar to the dramatic shift in the scientific world after Copernicus proved that the Earth really did orbit the Sun. He turned the whole world’s attitudes and ideas on their heads and paved the way for a whole new way of thinking. New frames for good questions.

As Saul was lying there in the dust of the road, I am sure a few new thoughts broke into his mind. “Who are you, Lord?” Saul’s really good question was that of a devout Jew who understands the significance of his experience from reading Scripture.

Let’s continue with our reading: “7 His companions on the journey stood there speechless, for they had heard the voice but could see no one.” Do you understand what’s going on? The others in this vigilante group can hear a voice, but have no idea Who is speaking. On top of that, Saul is suddenly struck blind. The companions don’t have a clue what is going on. They need to lead Saul into Damascus, blind and helpless. There he sit, and fasts, for three whole days.

            Sometimes, God chooses the most unlikely person for God’s purposes. Here is the Pharisee Saul, sitting and fasting in Damascus. Lord, what is going on here? In Acts chapter 9, Dr. Luke refers to Paul as God’s chosen vessel – a common, everyday domestic object. This is the same word that Paul uses himself in 2 Corinthians chapter 4: God’s treasure is found in “earthenware vessels.” In other words, Saul (soon to be renamed Paul) is the one chosen to be God’s vessel, or jar, or container. Paul is to carry the Good News, the truth of the Resurrection!

Paul calls himself a common, everyday jar or vessel, used for everyday tasks. With this important distinction: God has appointed Paul to carry the Good News! The same way God has appointed each of us to carry the truth of God’s message to everyone.

Paul was chosen to go to the nations, and not to just preach to Jews. The Lord has called each one of us. God has welcomed each of us into a heavenly embrace. I wonder. The nations are coming to us right here—to Morton Grove, to Glenview, to Niles, to Des Plaines, to Skokie, to Chicago. Is God calling us to be God’s vessels to carry Good News to our neighbors? To those we work with? To the person at the coffee shop or the clerk at the grocery store? 

I offer you the opportunity to hear God’s call! Chances are, it won’t be as dramatic as Saul’s conversion on the Damascus Road. But can you hear God’s call with gladness? You and I are welcomed into renewed relationship because of our encounter with the risen Christ – today!   Paul’s conversion narrative fires the imagination! May we find in its depths a call on every single one of us, for change and new possibility.

Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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Love in Their Hearts!

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“Love in Their Hearts!”

2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (8:7) – June 30, 2024 

Remember children on the playground, or maybe your friends or relatives’ children, divvying up some playthings, or some sports equipment, or some dress-up clothes? And then, getting into arguments about how someone had more, or another kid had the best one, or somebody was being overlooked? “Nobody pays any attention to me!” was the cry! “They’re cheating!” was another. “It’s not fair!” was the ultimate complaint.

Things have been that way for thousands and thousands of years. Human nature has not changed one bit. It does not matter whether we are talking about children or adults. We don’t always get what we want. We can’t sit wherever we want to. “He gets more than I do!” “Why is it her turn first?” And it always comes back to, “It’s not fair!”

Except, the apostle Paul is talking about being generous to each other here. In this letter to his friends and former church members in Corinth, Paul congratulates the friends in Corinth for their generosity! He is not able to say this to every group of believers he writes to, that’s for sure! The Corinthians go out of their way to give of themselves! As Paul says, “7 You are so rich in all you have: in faith, speech, and knowledge, in your eagerness to help and in your love for us. And so we want you to be generous also in this service of love.”

A little background here. Some years had passed since the Resurrection and the start of the Church, and the Church in Jerusalem and the surrounding area was very persecuted by the ruling authorities. These believers were – frankly – in poverty, because of the maltreatment by soldiers, by the government, and by their fellow citizens. The believers in the far-away city of Corinth had taken up an offering for the poverty-stricken believers in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, and the apostle Paul was really commending them for their generosity!

Paul’s kind words to his fellow believers make me think about us, today. Christians in Jerusalem are very much like people in dire poverty, today. Christians in Corinth are very much like those living in comfort, today. Just think about the believers in Corinth sending money to the struggling believers in Jerusalem. How does this church send money to people in poverty, today?

How about the Maine Township Food Pantry? Does that feed people in poverty? How about providing paper goods for those who have very little money? I know I have said this before, and it needs to be said again and again. You cannot buy disposable diapers with food stamps. You cannot get feminine products – sanitary pads or tampons – with SNAP cards. These are essential products that young families need.

Let’s look back at what Paul said here. This church in far-away Corinth collected money for their fellow believers whom they have likely never met. This offering binds the two churches – the two communities – together! “To use Paul’s language, this collection shows the believers’ indebtedness to one another and ultimately to the God who is working among them.” [1]

Which draws us to the high point of this reading today: “9 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; rich as he was, he made himself poor for your sake, in order to make you rich by means of his poverty.” Time after time in these letters, Paul reminds his friends about our Lord Jesus became human, becoming one of us frail creatures. And in our reading today, we see Jesus made Himself ultimately poor for OUR sake. For US.

What an astounding thing to think about! Jesus voluntarily made Himself poor. He took on poverty in this world so that you and I might become spiritually rich. That is so marvelous and astounding, that I almost cannot comprehend it. Plus, Paul then adds to his friends in Corinth that they need to finish the job that they started. Paul acknowledges that they are blessed with much. He says, “since you have plenty at this time, it is only fair that you should help those who are in need. Then, when you are in need and they have plenty, they will help you.”

I want to go back to hungry people, today. I am especially thinking about hungry children. I think all of us here know about children (and grandchildren) who are hungry enough to eat a horse, regularly! There are many families here in this community who do not have enough to feed their hungry children. Many families only get two meals a day, and sometimes even only one meal a day. That is all the food that the family can afford.

When children are hungry, they cannot pay attention in school or to their schoolwork. That is why reduced cost and free lunches are so necessary! Except, what about when weekends come? Or, school is on vacation? And, there are no extra lunches to be had? That is where the Backpack Project comes in. Backpacks are distributed by teachers and social workers at schools to families in great financial need. Quietly, without any fuss or fanfare, and with dignity. This is surely a way to provide for those in need, who do not have enough.

Paul shows us a way to let abundant grace be seen in these believers’ lives and announced to the church as a whole. Besides, giving to the church in Jerusalem is something the Corinthian believers are already doing. “Paul wants us to give, but he wants our hearts in it too, not that the value of our giving is measured by the depth of our desire to give, but that grace is at work in us, evidently at work in us, when our desires match our actions. Paul commended them for their giving, but also for their wanting to give.” And he is encouraging them to keep both the giving and the desire to give going to the utmost. [2]

Can we as believers do the same, today? Give abundantly, with grace?  

The apostle Paul tells us we – you and I – we are all one in the body of Christ. This reading tells us we all share as one in the body of Christ. Yes, it’s an ideal. Yes, we freely admit it. “Yet we strive for it anytime we open our hearts. And whether we have more than enough or whether we are lacking, we find help and hope in the body, hope in the relationship within the community of faith to whom we have opened our hearts.” [3]

            Paul calls each of us to generosity! Be generous with what we have, always. Open your heart and open yourselves to others, and we will all share as one in the body of Christ.

Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly-worship/monthly/2024-june/sunday-30-june-2024-sixth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-13-2/commentary-on-2-corinthians-87-15.

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/open-your-heart/sixth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/sixth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-preaching-notes