A Sermon on Acts 10:34-43

Written by Pastor Shellie Brook, for Madbury UCC

 

The lectionary reading for today begins with verse 34. Where we find Peter saying, “I truly understand that God shows no partiality.” Now in the translation I studied for today — Peter declares “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.” It’s crucial that we don’t simply hear this verse, in either translation, and think “God doesn’t have favorites” or we will miss the radial grace, ever-widening welcome & continuing testament that is extended to us by the Spirit, by the waters of baptism, by God calling us by name and calling us Beloved. Come journey with me.

 

We must linger for just a moment with these words. “I now realize.” Three words that change everything. Peter begins his sermon with a confession. “I now realize.” Friends this statement means: I see things differently. I have changed my mind. I have heard the voice of God call me to a fuller vision, a clearer picture of God’s reconciling love in the world. 

 

With just the opening verse of today’s scripture we are given permission, perhaps even invited and encouraged to keep asking questions — to journey with one another, with God — to wrestle with our faith — to challenge what we thought we knew — to let go of what we hold onto with such tightly-closed fists, the pride of our certainty: to find our hands and our hearts open to what God has for us now and moving forward. I don’t know about you, but to me, this is a message of freedom. “I now realize” — “I didn’t realize before, I didn’t see things clearly, but now I see.” It may sound familiar to us, much like this hymn of faith: “I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see.” 

 

In seminary we talked about asking the text a few questions. Who is speaking and to whom? What? What is the message? And my wife’s personal favorite “So what?” What do you want me to do about it? 

 

So let’s start at the very beginning — a very good place to start. 

 

Who? Peter is speaking, that much we know. But to whom is he speaking? He is speaking to a predominantly Roman crowd in a city called Caesarea. Caesarea was the headquarters of the Roman governor. To put that in context for us — this city is where Pontius Pilot would have lived. And to make this encounter with the Spirit even more shocking for its original audience — Peter is there, giving this message, at the request of a man named Cornelius. Who is Cornelius? In Acts 10:1 we learn that Cornelius is a centurion. An officer in the Roman Army. Friends, we are still in the shadows of the cross of Jesus Christ. Imagine with me what fears, what feelings the uniforms of Roman soldiers and officers would invoke? Those who whipped and mocked Jesus; those who beat a crown of thorns into His brow and pounded nails into his wrists, his feet — wore these same uniforms. 

 

Earlier in Acts chapter 10 we learn that Cornelius and his family were “God fearing” — a term of the day for those Gentiles who believed in God and yet did not convert to Judaism through circumcision, keeping the Torah, which meant adhering to the rituals and teaching of Hebrew Scriptures regarding what is impure, unclean. And here we must understand — that up until this point, this sermon Peter gives — that was the only way to fully be a part of the people of God, of Yahweh. To culturally convert. To commit with outward signs. To be circumcised, to eat foods and wear fabrics considered to be pure. To avoid what is impure, unclean.

 

But God — God does not call Cornelius impure, unclean, unworthy. God called Cornelius, by name; he has a vision of an angel of God. And the angel gives this Roman officer a different kind of marching orders — to send to Joppa, 30 miles away, for a man named Simon called Peter. SO Cornelius sends a soldier and two servants to make the journey. 

 

Now AS they were making that 30 mile journey to Peter, God calls to Peter, by name. And God calls Peter to challenge, to change, to uproot what he thought he knew without a shadow of doubt or any reservation. Part of how he lived into his relationship with all that is holy. 

 

Peter sees heaven opened, a large sheet filled with four-footed animals, reptiles & birds that the Torah (teachings) from God had commanded Hebrew people not to eat. It’s part of their covenant, part of their identity, their outward distinction making their way through the world. 

 

The voice says “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 

“Surely not, LORD. I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 

 

And friends, this is not about food. And it’s important for us to acknowledge that Peter himself does not immediately interpret it that way. He doesn’t say: I guess pork BBQ is on the menu. How wonderful that I can eat whatever I want now… In verse 17 “while Peter was still wondering” verse 19 “while Peter was still thinking about the vision” God says, three men are downstairs looking for you. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” Imagine Peter’s shock and surprise when he found a Roman soldier, two servants, Gentiles. And imagine how the Spirit through the visions to Cornelius and to Peter began re-visioning our sacred story. 

 

So we have arrived at the what? What is the message? 

It is a message that Peter embodies, that he lives into before he preaches this sermon. 

 

Peter invited them in. This isn’t like inviting a friend to dinner. It’s not even the same as inviting someone so different from you that cringe with discomfort, wincing through awkward smiles to force politeness. Peter didn’t just coldly give these Gentile visitors a room and a cold shoulder; he entertained them as welcomed guests, and he did this against every custom of the Jewish people of that day. 

 

Peter embodies God's impartial love by eating with Gentiles. At the table, Peter actively works out reconciliation with Gentiles; he actively seeks peace with them. And we are called to do the same. In the way of Jesus of Nazareth — who welcomed all to the table. 

 

Peter makes that 30 mile journey to Caesarea. To find a man named Cornelius, a Roman soldier in a Roman city. Cornelius, who invited his relatives, his close friends to hear a message from God, Yahweh, the Jewish people’s God — spoken by a Jewish man. Does it sound different now? As Peter says “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who believes this message.” 

 

This sacred story that Peter recites is a living, still-unfolding, re-visioning of God's impartiality, the dimensions of which are still dawning fresh on Peter. This is a radical message. That to be direct — too often we as Christians forget. That in the person of Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, teacher, and yes our Messiah, the LORD of ALL nations — we are grafted in, included in the covenantal love of God!! THIS is the radial grace, ever-widening welcome & continuing testament that is extended to us by the Spirit, by the waters of baptism, by God calling us by name and calling us Beloved. 

 

Peter lifts up the sacred story “God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus of Nazareth who is Lord of all. Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 

 

And AS Peter is still speaking — the Holy Spirit comes upon the Gentiles: Marking them as God’s own. Claiming them as God’s own. 

And they are baptized. Baptism is an outward sign of God’s always at work, ever present grace that pursues us & fills us when we are open to and anticipating that presence. The outsiders, those who have been “othered,” those on the margins. God calls by name. Calls beloved. Calls and invites into the Kingdom of God here on earth as it is in heaven. 

 

So what? How then shall we live?

This re-visioning that comes from the Spirit continues in our sacred story as we embody this kind of radical grace, ever-widening welcome today. The message is not simply “God doesn’t have favorites.” 

Because God is the God of impartiality, we are called to be a people of impartiality. Because God makes peace with us, we are called to make peace with others. Again our sacred story isn’t just something we hear but promises we live!

 

That promise is not that there are no outsiders —

but that outsiders are welcomed with VIP seating at the table. 

 

The promise is not that there are no more people pushed to the edges & the margins of society —

but that they will be drawn in, invited, embraced as God’s own. 

 

The Spirit breaks into our hearts, our lives, our stories — and brings re-visioning: a new way of seeing our church, our world, ourselves. 

 

Throughout this sacred story AND our own sacred stories — God calls us by name. God calls us beloved. God calls us forward in the journey to be a people who live the witness of radial grace, ever-widening welcome & continuing testament. Hallelujah & Amen.