What’s in a Name?

Acts 4:32-37  Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.  There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.  They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.  There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement").  He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Here we have a new follower of Jesus introduced to us: Joseph of Cyprus. We know a few things about him:

1.     He is a Jew of the family of Levite . This makes him a member of a family that includes Moses, Aaron, Samuel, Ezekiel and Malachi. The descendents of this family were designated as the priestly class. Deuteronomy 18:2 tells us that when Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan, the Levites were not given land because they were to trust God for their sustenance:  “the LORD is their inheritance”.   

2.    He comes from a Greek island, that had been taken over by the Romans in 58BC.

3.    He has been given a nickname by the apostles: “Barnabas”. The Aramaic of this is  בר נביא, bar naḇyā, meaning 'the son (of the) prophet'.  However, the Greek text of the passage quoted above explains the name as υἱός παρακλήσεως, hyios paraklēseōs, meaning "son of consolation" or "son of encouragement".

Joseph is given the name Barnabas, because people recognised a quality of generosity in his life. He gives away his inheritance. Here was a Levite who was willing to return to his roots and trust God for his inheritance.  

If the people around you, or me, were to name us for our reputation – what do you think we would be called? Would “generous”,” kind” or “compassionate” come to mind? Let us be challenged to grow a reputation for being people like Jesus.

 

“Your reputation is in the hands of others. That's what the reputation is. You can't control that. The only thing you can control is your character.” ― Wayne W. Dyer

 

 

Pentecost

29 The Church of the Spirit
Scripture reading taken from A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants p.184

 

Walking and leaping and praising God

Acts 3:1-10  One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o'clock in the afternoon.  And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms.  Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."  And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.  But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk."  And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.  Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.  All the people saw him walking and praising God,  and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

100 years after Jesus we have Luke writing down some of the history of the Christian community. It would seem that the reason he does so is because this is a community struggling with divisions of both culture and class.  What is happening at this time?

 

1.     We do know that the church was split between those who wanted the followers of Jesus to become Jewish as a condition of joining the church and those who said that Gentiles were welcome without becoming Jewish.  And as you read Acts you will see that one of the reasons that Luke has written is to clear this up. He spends five chapters describing this conflict, and telling how the Christian leadership included Gentiles without expecting them to convert to Judaism (Acts Chapters 10-15).

2.    But Luke also has another point he is wanting to make: he is writing to a church that is also divided along class lines. Some think that they are superior to others.... How do I know this? We find this in the writing of this period: 1 & 2 Timothy & 2 Peter carry this theme. But I want to use another piece of writing from this period – a piece that says it so well:   

In those days there will be many who love office, although lacking wisdom ... many wicked elders and shepherds who wrong their sheep ... and many will exchange the glory of the robes of the saints for the robes of those who love money, and there will be much respect of persons in those days ... there will not be many prophets nor those who speak reliable words, except one here and there ... among the shepherds and elders there will be great hatred towards one another.[1]

So Luke tells a story about the senior leadership of the group of early disciples: Peter and John go to the temple to worship. They go at the hour of afternoon sacrifice (Exodus 29:39-40), when the temple leadership is gathered, and they do the unexpected. Instead of getting to the sacrifice, they pause and spend time with one of the people who would not be allowed inside the temple. Here is a man whose disfigurement would have labelled him “cursed by God” and therefore ineligible to attend the sacrifice.[2] Peter and John have good news for this man. This is a gospel of inclusion. This is a gospel that insists that all are welcome to the sacrifice. So they help the man to his feet and take him into the temple with them to attend the prayers.

Here then is Luke’s challenge to those who read his story; all are welcome to worship God – both the ‘righteous’ inside of the temple, and the ‘sinners’ who lie outside of the gates. So throw open the doors of the house of God and let everyone in.

For thought: today is a good moment to pause and ask who I need to bring into the household of God. Sometimes my answer lies with that person (or group of people) who make me most uncomfortable!

 

Fling wide the gates! Through Christ his work accomplished;
Fling wide the gates! His toils for others finished;
Laid down the sword, the cross for crown relinquished,
Hallelujahs fill the earth and sky.

 

Pentecost

29 The Church of the Spirit
Scripture reading taken from A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants p.184

 

---

[1] The Testament of Hezekiah Ascension of Isaiah 3:23ff; transl Charlesworth

 The picture of the corruption of the Church which is given in 3:21-23 invites comparison with the descriptions of the Church given in 1 and 2 Timothy, 2 Peter, and 1 Clement 3; the similarities with these writings likewise suggest that 3:13-4:22 dates from about the end of the first century.

[2] Lev 21:18  "For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, one who is blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, or one who has a broken foot or a broken hand"

Goodwill

Acts 2:43-47  Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.  All who believed were together and had all things in common;  they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Luke opens this second chapter of his story by telling his readers of the blessing of the Holy Spirit. We all know that when Luke wrote this passage (80 years after Jesus) the Christian Church was not like the church described above:  Christians were sharply divided over whether true followers of Jesus ought to adopt the Jewish ritual laws or not. For this reason Luke sets out the dream. This is a stylized account of what the Christian Church ought to be – this is the setting of a goal for the church.

We continue to go back to this passage today – because in the midst of our own Christian divisions we need to be reminded of what God’s church can be. As Pentecost Sunday approaches, let us pray for the restoration of the Church of Jesus. Perhaps this prayer ought to begin with a personal prayer: “Let there be goodwill on earth – and let it begin with me”.     

 

Pentecost Week

29 The Church of the Spirit
Scripture reading taken from A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants p.184

 

Rejoice in the Lord

Psalm 97:1-12  The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!  Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.  Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side.  His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.  The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.  The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.  All worshipers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.  Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O God.  For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.  The LORD loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.  Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.  Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

This Psalm (which is the set Psalm for tomorrow) is one of seven “enthronement” psalms.[1] These were songs that originated when the Israelites were in exile in Babylon. They were subject to a foreign power, who demanded that they accept a foreign ruler as their Lord. And even when they were allowed to return to their land, they remained vassals of foreign powers such as the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans. The Israelites resisted this by singing songs that affirmed that God was their King.  These were psalms that enabled them to believe that despite their captivity, God was still on the throne, and the day would come when the power of God would be revealed.

This is a helpful psalm for moments when we despair and begin to think that wicked rulers are behaving as if God were not in charge. At such times it is important to state our faith: “For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods”. The gods of our times will not hold sway forever. Light shall dawn for the righteous, and the upright in heart shall rejoice.

Read the Psalm aloud and make it your own claim of faith.

 

---

[1] Psalms 47, 93, 95-99.

Preparation for the Dark Night

Matthew 25:1-13  "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.  As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.  But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'  Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'  And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.  Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.'  Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Weddings are moments of ritualized celebration in the life of a community. Once the negotiations between the families are complete, all that remains is to escort the bride to the groom’s home. This is done with singing and dancing, normally at night after the leave-taking at the bride’s home. The issue at stake in this parable is the preparation of the praise-singers. Some had paused to prepare for the event by procuring extra oil “just in case”. Some seem to have agreed to assist the wedding with little thought about the preparation they ought to make.  The rebuke in this parable of Jesus is for those who took on a commitment without counting the cost.  

As with all parables, there are many different interpretations for this parable. I am choosing to highlight just one thing: the challenge to count the cost of a commitment. All too often people drift into following a Christian way of life, with little thought about the commitment. The fact is – following the way of Jesus is costly. This is a life that asks us to renounce our own selfish nature, and to choose to allow the Spirit of God to shape us in new ways. We are to love the poor, and to care for the outcasts. We are to seek justice, practice mercy, and walk in the ways of peace. This life asks us to face “the dark night of the soul” with determination and courage. And such a life requires daily preparation to make it through.

Oil for our lamps is found in an ongoing life of prayer and reflection; it is refilled in fellowship with others who follow Jesus; and is nourished by trusting the Spirit of God when we think our last step is just that. I have had the privilege of sharing this week with the Order of Deacons in the British Methodist Church. This has been a time of renewing the oil in my lamp, and I am grateful.

Pray for Jean Stephensen (Airedale); Joan Stockley (Poole & Swanage); Sian Street (Leigh & Hindley); Terry Street (Nottingham)

 

Song:
Give me oil for my lamp, keep it burning
Give me oil for my lamp I pray
Give me oil for my lamp, keep it burning
Keep it burning till the light of day

Readings taken from the lectionary in the Prayer Book of the British Methodist Diaconal Order

 

Ascension Day

Luke 24:44-53  Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."  Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,  and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."  Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.   While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.  And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy;  and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

“He withdrew from them”. What a scary idea – that Jesus had withdrawn! The disciples had grown used to having Jesus around. They had spent three years learning from him... and now he is gone! But I suspect that this is exactly how it should be. They needed to learn to stand on their own feet. While their teacher was there, they could so easily step back to let him be the leader. Now they had nobody to fall back on. It was up to them.

This is one of the important lessons of life for us all. We have times of learning, followed by times of putting that learning into practice. I think of the Deacons of the Methodist Church of Great Britain. They have spent the past few days learning from each other. This afternoon they pack their bags and return to their mission appointments.  It is time to practice the things they have learned.

 

Perhaps you are one who needs to move from learning to practicing?

 

Pray For:

Steven Sowerby (Central Norfolk); Maureen Spinks (North Fylde); Janet Stafford (Sheffield North) Marian Stanley (Chorley & Leyland)

 

Readings taken from the lectionary in the Prayer Book of the British Methodist Diaconal Order

 

Why are you jealous?

Mat 20:1-16  "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.   When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same.  And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.'  When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.'  When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.  Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.  And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner,  saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'  But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?  Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.  Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?'  So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

 This parable is so unfair!

How can the owner pay the same wages to the worker who put in a full day’s work, as he paid to the worker who only worked at sunset? This is clearly unjust, and a case for the labour unions. But of course they did not have unions..... and Jesus is telling this story making a theological point about the Grace of God.

The Parables of Jesus open themselves to a variety of meanings. One key to this parable is the question asked in Matthew 20:15: ‘are you envious because I am generous?'  The truth is that we human beings are often jealous. As a child I looked anxiously at what my sister was given, and protested loudly if her portion was perceived to be bigger than mine. As an adult I am still tempted to become jealous when I think that someone else has received more favour than me – only now my protest is framed in words of “justice” and “injustice”. But here is the truth of Jesus: nobody deserves anything. All of life is a gift given by a generous God – a life which I have neither deserved, nor earned. It is only when I learn to live life with gratitude for that which I have, that I will be set free from wishing that I had more.

I am at a Convocation of Deacons: 200 men and women meeting together to celebrate their life together as an Order in the Methodist Church of Great Britain. It is clear that some deacons have been advantaged over others: some who are new to the Order have comfortable accommodation of a kind unavailable to those older members - who began their ministry living out of caravans! Equally some deacons have respect and responsibility that were denied to those who pioneered the Order; and whereas the early deacons were expected to remain celibate and single, the Order has changed its rules to allow for married deacons. While this is completely unfair and unjust, today I celebrated the testimonies of some of these older deacons. There was no rancour or unhappiness. Instead they gave thanks to God for the opportunity to be of service.

And I am challenged again to be content with the life I am given.

 

Pray for : Jan Smith (Birmingham); Kerry Smith (Birmingham); Len Smith (Cheshire South); Pat Soule (Lesnes Abbey).

 

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise

Folliot S. Pierpoint

Readings taken from the lectionary in the Prayer Book of the British Methodist Diaconal Order