One of the great things about the Easter season is the array of stories about the early church. Many sound as though they should be a scene in one of Shakespeare’s plays. These stories of the early Christian community form the basis for much of the liturgical and ecclesial praxis in the church today. So when we hear these stories during this season of Easter, we are gaining insights into who we are and how we are called to Christ.
One such story is the one we heard this morning about the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip. As the story begins, the Christians in Jerusalem had become scattered as the persecution intensified. According to Acts, Stephen, traditionally the first deacon, was executed and Saul and his henchmen were going house to house looking for insurgents who followed Jesus. In fact, the persecution became so widespread that the Christians could not stay in any one place very long, as they were liable to being arrested for their preaching. Philip had gone to Samaria a city that was north of Jerusalem. There he healed those afflicted with both spiritual and physical ills. His ministry was powerful and many were converted to belief in Christ. Even Peter and John on hearing of the growing community came to Samaria and laid hands on the people that they might also receive the Spirit of God. Sounds a lot like an inquirer’s class with a deanery confirmation to follow….
At some point Philip felt that God’s was calling him to a new ministry on a road through the desert from Jerusalem to Gaza. Unlike many of us when God seems to be calling us to a new place in our lives, Philip did not stop to feed the animals or check on some personal problem – the story tells us that Philip just got up and went. On the road, he ran into an Ethiopian, a eunuch we are told, who was a court official, the treasurer for the queen. I imagine him to be tall with rich, ebony skin tones – probably slim and with bright, inquisitive eyes. I can just see the beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead in the hot, midday, Mediterranean sun and the colorful cloth that he uses to wipe his brow as he reads out loud. He has come from Jerusalem where he had gone on pilgrimage. He is reading a passage from the prophet Isaiah and is having trouble reconciling what the prophet is trying to say with the teachings of the learned Jewish scribes. Much like us when we struggle to understand how these passages have bearing on our lives today given the ways they are sometimes used by our religious leaders.
Philip, again moved by the Spirit and hearing the Ethiopian reading out loud, ran up to the chariot and said; “Do you understand what you are reading?” Can’t you just picture this? Philip, a poor preacher – in some really tired robes and sandals, jogging along beside the chariot – talking to the wealthy man who is dressed to the nines. The likely scenario is that the Queen’s man would have Phillip flogged and left to die on the side of the road. But instead of ordering the guards to shove Philip out of the way, the Ethiopian said, “How can I, unless someone teaches me.”
Once invited, Philip seized the opportunity and began to tell the man the story of Jesus. Well his sermon must have been a pulpit banger because the Ethiopian became so wrapped up that as Philip finished he jumped up and seeing a pool of water said, “What is to prevent me from being baptized?” Talk about impetuous! Both men then jumped down from the chariot and immersed themselves in the waters of baptism. Then immediately after they came up out of the water, Phillip was taken away by God’s spirit to preach in another place and the Ethiopian continued on his way proclaiming with joy the Good News of Christ.
This is a story of opportunity and response. Two men from very different worlds – neither of whom should have by culture or custom been hanging out together - were united by a desire to feel God’s love for them and to be agents of that love in the world. How difficult it is for you or for me to respond to God’s call, to move outside our safety zones and yet Philip does it without question. And the Ethiopian responds with matching intensity and commits himself immediately and totally to God’s care. Both of these men responded to God by being vulnerable – open to the movement of the spirit in their lives. We can learn two really big things about God’s kingdom here.
First, the Gospel is not just for one particular group. Think about it - Philip had gone to preach to the Samaritans - outcasts in Israel, then he baptizes, an Ethiopian - a foreigner and one who was unsuitable – unclean by the Jewish authorities and yet who felt a desire to know God that transcended the cultural laws. God touches the lives of all sorts and conditions of people regardless of gender, color, language, whatever - wounded or not. We limit God when we try to say that one way of worship or prayer is right or wrong or one group of people should not be included in God’s house. This story is truly one of inclusion and incorporation of all into the household of God.
In a couple of weeks we will welcome several children in baptism into our faith community. Each family has expressed questions about who should be baptized and why. Those questions are good and they help us to clarify what we are about, but my response is to say that questioning who should be welcomed by the church is to limit the work of God through the Holy Spirit to move in their lives and in ours. Ruah Elohim in Hebrew, the breath or spirit of God known is to us as both wind and fire and dove - gentle, peaceful, but always with an element of danger. Baptism carries with it an element of danger, because to turn oneself to God is to be ready to enter into the unknown places, people, and possibilities whatever they might be.
Secondly, this story is about the limitless possibilities in the spreading of God’s message. We learn about listening to how the Spirit calls us to proclaim Christ to the world and the power that God has to call all peoples to God’s self. Jesus tells us pretty plainly that we are not alone in this task of gospel proclaiming and kingdom building. John tells us this morning that Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” That is a pretty intimate relationship. Sometimes we need to be still and alone and find just the right place to sit to sense and receive this spirit that Jesus says dwells with us and in us. And sometimes it will sweep us away with hurricane force winds, sending us to places and people we do not know.
God calls us to live our lives with conviction - with confidence that Easter has come, Jesus has risen, and that God's spirit is absolutely active - right here right now. God calls us to live our lives with an Easter faith and telling everyone we meet about our faith. We are called to be evangelists, to discover how we as individuals and as a community might respond immediately and passionately to the blowing of God’s spirit through our lives. What is it that stops us from responding in the same way as Philip and the Ethiopian? Is it fear of uncertainty or change, is it putting our own needs and wants above those of others, is it a desire to always be in control, living in the illusion that life moves at our own direction? Or is it maybe just simply a sense of complacency - comfortable with the way things are and not willing to make to effort to respond to the touch of Ruah Elohim.
What all of Scripture is urging us to accept is that now is the only time we have to let ourselves to feel God's breath. Now is the time to allow ourselves to be blown by the winds, winds more powerful than any we have ever experienced in this world. Now is the time to ask am I prepared to respond to God's spirit without hesitation? As we approach Pentecost, listen for God’s breath in your life and pray for those who will be marked as Christ’s own forever. Amen