Monday, August 5, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
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. (NRSV)

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Reflection

This is quite a story of disciples healing a man with uncooperative legs. It’s one thing for stories such as these to be attributed to Jesus, but to do the same with his followers is another level altogether. But even a casual read through the Book of Acts notes time and again the disciples of Jesus doing the same kinds of things, or even the same exact thing, that Jesus would do. This theme is so strong that New Testament Scholar Willie James Jennings says that occasionally the disciples “repeat Jesus” (Jennings, Acts: Belief Commentary, p. 100).

I have never had the capacity to heal. But the text offers a more basic lesson, which is found in this commitment of Peter when he says, “What I have I give you.” In all honesty, I don’t expect my discipleship will ever result in anything as dramatic as speaking in a way that teaches a person who is lame to dance. But everyone can live in a spirit of generosity that is expressed in “What I have I give you.”

Just as Jesus decided to show up when Peter spoke those words long ago, perhaps when we opt to live with grace and generosity, when we give kindness and choose hope, perhaps Jesus will show up in our actions as well. Maybe the followers of Christ are not finished “repeating Jesus.”

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Prayer
God of mercy, help me trust that I am your child, that I might choose to live like I truly belong to you. In the name of the Risen One. Amen.

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Written by Tom Are Jr., Interim Pastor

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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