Sunday has come

A good friend* with a knack for finding these things sent me this familiar picture, which at the time showed up in the Apalachicola Times. In our Apalachicola days, we had a Blessing of the Fleet as part of our annual Florida Seafood Festival the first Saturday of November every year. The town is crowded, a parade, booths in the park offering all manner of seafood, time to stuff yourself. I don't know how it is now, but Saturday late morning the town's ministers who wanted to participate met at an agreed place, that year 1986 we met in the rectory at St Patrick Catholic Church, Father Chuck of StPatrick our host, Rev Don MacMillan of 1st UMC, and I of Trinity Episcopal, together with Fr Chuck's bishop, whose name slips my mind. We met, visited a bit, then paraded down to the riverfront, led by an acolyte. One year my grandson Nicholas carried the cross for us as I recall, must have been November 1993, which returns to mind for my own reasons. 

Anyway, someone snapped the above picture of us at the waterfront ready for the Blessing of the Fleet to begin, both commercial and pleasure boats gliding by close enough for us to shake water on them as we waved the sign of the cross over them. Father Chuck brought his holy water sprinkler, is holding it. We were good and special friends, the three of us, Don, Chuck and I, happy days that the picture restored to memory. I don't remember Don's age, but younger than I was as I recall. I was 51, and Chuck was my brother's age, so would have been 47 at the time. Aren't we lovely! Don't know what happened to that white stole with red crosses

In our Acts lesson for this morning, the three go on by ship from Cyprus to the mainland, John Mark returns home from the journey, while Paul and Barnabas go into the land to proclaim Christ. There is speculation but we do not know, are not told why John Mark left the little company to return to Jerusalem, but we do know that Paul's apparent upset with him for leaving soon caused disagreement between Paul and Barnabas about whether to include John Mark in future journey and ministry.

Couple other things quickly. Luke's quotation from Psalm 2, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you,” later, along with Luke using the same quotation in his gospel at Jesus' baptism (later edited), stirs theological issue about when Jesus became the Son of God,  but I don't see it here as essentially reflecting a high christology for Luke the writer. Also, I think Luke's use of "Holy Spirit" means God, not essentially reflecting for Luke a trinitarian theology, although I do think these frequent usages helped lead to the development of trinitarian Christianity decades and centuries later, including in fourth century development of the Nicene Creed as orthodox christian doctrine. Anyway ...

Acts 13:13-52

Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia

 Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and returned to Jerusalem; but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. 

And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, ‘Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, give it.’ So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak:

‘You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, “I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.” Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as he promised; before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his work, he said, “What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.”

 ‘My brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. Because the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize him or understand the words of the prophets that are read every sabbath, they fulfilled those words by condemning him. Even though they found no cause for a sentence of death, they asked Pilate to have him killed. When they had carried out everything that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead; and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm,
“You are my Son;
   today I have begotten you.” 
As to his raising him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,
“I will give you the holy promises made to David.” 
Therefore he has also said in another psalm,
“You will not let your Holy One experience corruption.” 
For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, died, was laid beside his ancestors, and experienced corruption; but he whom God raised up experienced no corruption. 

Let it be known to you therefore, my brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you; by this Jesus everyone who believes is set free from all those sins from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, that what the prophets said does not happen to you: 
“Look, you scoffers!
   Be amazed and perish,
for in your days I am doing a work,
   a work that you will never believe, even if someone tells you.” ’

 As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people urged them to speak about these things again the next sabbath. When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

 The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles,
   so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” ’

 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.


* Thanks, Mike!!