The God who turns toward us
(Free Version)- Acts 17:22-31 (Paul at the Areopagus); 1 Peter 3:13-22 (Exhortation in Suffering); John 14:15-21 (The Advocate)
This week is the sixth Sunday of Easter. In this week’s readings, we hear of the love of God and His faithfulness, shown in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In our Acts reading (Acts 17:22-31), Paul finds himself before the Areopagus in Athens, a court he has been talking to because the philosophers think he is preaching foolishness (and, in the way of the world, he is!). In our verses, Paul is defending himself while preaching the good news of Jesus and the resurrection. Disturbed by the city’s idolatry, Paul points out that they are only able to worship what they do not know. Unlike the idols, the one true God is not made by human hands and he cannot be contained by them. Because of the resurrection, the world has been opened up in a new way. The resurrection of Jesus has shown him to be the one who is beyond death, and the world’s true judge.
From Paul’s defense, we hear the good news that there is no cultural boundary, no ethnicity, and no ignorance too far for the good news. In his love, God is faithful to reach to us.
In our epistle reading (1 Peter 3:13-22), Peter exhorts a suffering church. His first exhortation is straight forward: do good. Far from moralism, Peter is challenging the church to avoid the path of vengeance, fighting like the world does when they have been wronged. Neither their difficult circumstances nor the dark powers that have gripped the world since the days of Noah have the final word. The dark powers have been given notice. And they can give a defense of the source of their hope. Like the remnant who were saved in the ancient flood, we have been saved through the waters of baptism. This is our final hope, no matter how the world appears.
In our gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Though we often balk at this concept, it makes sense that obedience and love go together. When we love someone, we take active steps to express that love and to build the relationship. Jesus’ commandments may seem daunting. We are faced with our limitations. But that is the point. The disciples (and we) are not left alone in this; they (and we) are given the Advocate (or “helper” or “comforter”), the Holy Spirit.
There are some in our congregations who need to know the Spirit as Advocate. They simply need to know that someone is with them. Someone gets it. Someone is in their corner. Someone knows their whole story though and through, and links arms with them. Paul had to trust that the Spirit was with him, making a defense through him. This is not unlike Peter’s reminder to the church as they undergo suffering.
Some in our congregations need to be reminded that the Holy Spirit is our comforter. The pews will be filled with some who have gone through incredible pain. They've felt rejected. They’ve been hurt. They’ve been sick. They’ve experienced loss. We have the opportunity to proclaim the good news that they are not alone in their pain. God suffers with them. This is where the Athenians find themselves, far from God. Paul proclaims the good news that God has not turned away from them in their sin, but has turned towards them.
There are some who need to know the Spirit as helper. They fell overwhelmed as they face their own limitations. Pastors, we too need to hear this important truth. One of the things pastors often fear is that we are not doing enough— to serve, help, teach, and lead. Over the years, when I’ve given into this fear, it can feel like failure because there is always more I could be doing. Someone I know loses their faith and I wonder if I could’ve had more conversations with them, helped them to find hope. Someone is sick in the hospital…Did I check in enough? A pastor’s work day is strange because we want to maximize every minute, but so much of our work actually comes from a place of deep reflection, listening, and stillness. Our fear of “not doing enough” can often be pride masking as humility. We are not trusting the work of the Holy Spirit. The truth is that the Holy Spirit is working in other people’s lives in the midst of our limitations not in spite of them.
The reminder this week, to ourselves and to our congregations: you are not in this alone! You have an advocate, with you forever. It is from that place that we are invited into obedience.