In a development in the life of the early Church, Peter’s sermon at Caesarea led to people being filled with the Holy Spirit. Things were not happening in a controlled and predictable way, which must have been difficult for rule following (circumcised) believers. [Acts 10:44-48]. Baptism with water should have come before that with the Holy Spirit and yet people outside the usual spectrum of the Jews were being filled. Ever the pragmatic one, Peter’s comment was permissive and recognised that it was the same blessing that the original Jewish believers had received so he was not for stopping the development.
We find it difficult to lose control, even when we believe God is part of something. In Framlingham, the free food pantry outside the church is being emptied almost as fast as we can fill it. We are out of control. We worry that all those taking food really need it and yet we know that many do need it, so we are ‘sort of comfortable’.
When the pantry was set up, we had rules about what was put in it. Then we found that generous donors left different things, and did not always follow the rules, but we find ourselves glad for that as well.
We are out of control and yet in control. We could take away the pantry tomorrow, but we will not do that because we know that somewhere in the middle of what is happening, God is reaching people in need who live around us and yet are not part of our ‘community’. Is this not another sort of outreach.
I am part of the Church because I could see God in the world and knew he was real in my life. He has called me to a certain type of service. If I found a bag of pasta that fed my family when I had nothing, I may well have seen that as being just the same. How about you?
A Prayer
Lord, it is not easy to lose control to different, especially unknown people. Help us to see when you want new things to happen in uncontrolled and unpredictable ways. Grant us the grace St Peter showed as we grapple with new miracles around us in our world. May we not be those who limit the Holy Spirit or curtail the work of your kingdom in our careful, controlling reticence. Amen.