For a group of guys who didn’t get it in the
Gospels the disciples got going pretty quickly in the book of Acts. With a
sound like the rushing of the wind and tongues of flames on their heads and
languages not their own they were transformed from confused followers into bold
witnesses who rejoiced that they were considered worthy of persecution. How do
we enter such a text given that the message which caused such a stir has
settled down to become the status quo? It may be that Gamaliel’s advice, ignore
them and they’ll go away, accomplished what the Pharisees desired. The church
becomes irrelevant when it is no longer “considered worthy to suffer dishonor”
because of the name of Jesus. I’m not saying I’m nostalgic for the days when
the Gospel enraged the powers that be but I would like to rejoice in being
worthy of attention. If we tell the truth the journey of the last four days was
mostly about us, i.e. church goers, while for many of our neighbors and
co-workers and friends and even family it was just another weekend even if they
did spring for a chocolate bunny in a basket. If Monday happens right on schedule and
holy week like Christmas is carefully wrapped and put back on the shelf until
next year it will be just another, albeit it busy, weekend for us well. But if
we were to do something worthy of attention today, speak and act as those who have
something worth living and saying and in so doing make this world look more
like the world that God had in mind, then like the disciples we would rejoice in
being followers who take the lead.
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