Take a Lap

Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)     Revelation to John 5:11-14       John 21:1-19

Each of us is born into a world impacted by Original Sin. There is a distance separating us from God--a cloud of darkness shields His light. Saul thought he served God as he arrested Christians, until Jesus came to him. After the encounter, Saul is left physically blind, an outward sign of his spiritual blindness. A sincere error is still an error, and Paul was wrong. Union with God, theosis, requires a new mind. Union with God means that we must return to Him. The Hebrew for conversion is sub which means “to turn around.” Sin is primarily not a moral state, it is missing a target or wandering off the path. Sin is relational--being further from God and repentance is drawing near. The Greek word metanoia means a changed mind. Remember, the Mind, encompasses what we mean by “personality”—how we perceive, think, feel, understand and judge. We are born in a world that is separated from God. This condition is described as “darkness.” The Light, Who is Jesus Christ, heals our misperception of reality. Folks, we are just struggling to make it, doing our best to negotiate life. We have been wounded, we are haunted by doubts and fears, and we wander off. Even the saints struggle with the darkened mind and sinful desires, as we see in today’s readings.

Ananias fails to trust Jesus. In response to the Lord's command he explains its a bad idea. We all judge God’s word as unreasonable or impractical. This has been the case since Eve looked at the tree and said, maybe God is wrong about things. It is foolish, but we do it.

We also, like Peter,  overestimate ourselves. At the Last Supper, Jesus told Peter "you will deny me." Peter is defensive, declaring "I would die for you!" His bravado is neither trust nor humility. Peter was a brave guy, he drew a sword to face down the large crowd. However, the courage waned and soon he quaked before a single woman denying he knew Jesus. You and I, how many times have we denied Jesus?

The Lord is not harsh with either, He tells Ananias that Saul has been chosen and he will suffer greatly. Ananias gets a “new mind” and gets back on the “right path,” doing as Jesus commanded. He even greets Paul as a brother, seeing him with the eyes of Jesus.

Jesus heals Peter’s sin by asking "Do you love me?" three times. In Morning Prayer today in the first letter of Peter we read "love covers a multitude of sins." Peter knew this truth first hand as his "you know that I love you’' covered the denials. But loving Jesus can never be disconnected from the church. Jesus tells Peter, and us, care for the flock, tend each lamb. His church is His body, as He made clear to Saul on the road. Loving Jesus always includes loving and serving the church. What you do to the church, you do to Jesus.

Trust is the open door for healing and union with God. We must become humble and trusting if we would ever know the abundance of Life in our Lord. So care for the church, care for the needy and pray. I conclude with this prayer, based on Psalm 131.

Lord I am not great or important. I have no answers to the mysteries of life. I will not busy myself with such things. Instead, I am just going to sit in Your lap, like a small child. I sit here and let you love me, because I trust You, not myself.