Accepting Direction:

Apostle for Friday of the Fourth Week of Pascha

Acts 10:44-11:10 (include vss. 11-18), especially
vs. 9: "But the voice answered me again from heaven, 'What God has
cleansed you must not call common.'"

Often our worst enemies are our unexamined presuppositions, which lead
us to think that we understand what is happening when we do not. Thus,
we misjudge entire situations, and later discover that we were wrong and
failed to anticipate many key factors. Worst, our wrong presuppositions
can lead us to throw ourselves against reality - in an effort to force
life to conform to our ideas.

On the other hand, unexpected events often are our great opportunities
to gain humility and learn basic acceptance of the will of God.
Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow urges us to pray for the unexpected:
"Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of
soul and with the firm conviction that Thy will governs all."

The present passage from Acts records the first outpouring of the Holy
Spirit on non-Jews - Gentiles. The passage instructs us to accept God's
direction. God caused all who were present at the home of Cornelius to
"go beyond" their expectations. The Evangelist Luke reports that all
who were there accepted the evident will of God. St. John Chrysostom,
in commenting on what happened, observed: "Clearly the whole is of God;
and as for Peter, it may almost be said, that he is present only to be
taught the lesson with them."

St. Luke leaves no doubt: God, for His gracious reasons, took the
division between Jews and Gentiles into His Own hands in Caesarea.
Jewish Christian acceptance of Gentiles into their fellowship would
prove to be a serious strain on the relationship between ethnic Israel
and the Church (see Acts 10:21-33). Looking at these events from the
perspective of conservative Judaism, one can sympathize with the
astonishment of the Jewish Christians who came to Caesarea with the
Apostle Peter as they saw the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Gentiles.

Let their surprise remind us to examine our readiness to accept shifts
of direction, most of all when events abruptly contradict our human
certainty and established expectations. There is nothing wrong with
amazement. After all, this present existence is shaped both by visible,
tangible, earth-bound factors and by the ever-active, but unseen, hand
of God. As a Christian, expect life to produce wonder and awe as events
unfold: "For God is with us. Understand, O ye nations, and submit
yourselves: for God is with us."

Consider St. John Chrysostom's thought - that St. Peter was learning
along with the others present. The Apostle's response to the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit was to order Baptism for the Gentiles. His response
has much to say about accepting change. The Holy Spirit plainly
revealed the way to Peter. A spiritually mature man - which the Apostle
Peter surely was - knows immediately what next step to follow. That is
not surprising. Peter simply obeyed; for the Lord had told the Eleven,
"...make disciples of all nations, baptizing them..." (Mt. 28:19).
Learn to be discerning. When events move unexpectedly, ask, 'What does
God expect of me now?'

Finally, look further at the response of "those of the circumcision,"
the Jewish Christians still fettered by the ancient strictures of the
Law. They were astonished to see the Holy Spirit come upon Gentiles;
yet it seems that they assisted in the Baptisms (Acts 10:48).

Later, those not present felt right in challenging Peter (vs. 11:2).
They knew it is necessary to "...withdraw from every brother who walks
disorderly and not according to the tradition..." (2 Thess. 3:6).
"...the Faith once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3) is not to
be compromised. Still, the truly wise accept God's hand and follow His
lead (Acts 11:18).

O God, our God, illumine our souls and number us with Thy rational flock.