Acts 17:22-31 Psalm 66:8-20 1 Peter 3:13-22 John 14:15-21
During his period as a hermit in the mid-12th century, Peter Abelard dedicated his chapel to the Paraclete because “I had come there as a fugitive and, in the depths of my despair, was granted some comfort by the grace of God.[1]
Into the eighth week of lock-down, our homes have been transformed into hermitages. Some full of boisterous children looking to be entertained, some transforming every spare space into temporary offices, some devoid of family presence – save photographs and those all too familiar internet link-ups with our nearest and dearest.
In such circumstances it might be preferable to focus on the readings from 1 Peter 3:13-22 and John 14:15-21, which concentrate on providing pastoral consolation for a community experiencing suffering and death. That would certainly bring comfort and consolation to those who desperately need to hear the word of grace at this time.
Yet the other pair of readings – Acts 17:22-31 and Psalm 66:8-20 – speak to another deep need as people search for God. For these readings remind the church of the challenge to offer the grace of God beyond the community of faith.
What follows will be a quick tour of each of the texts, which can then be revisited and savoured to bring comfort … or challenge!
How can I keep from singing?
First of all, the Psalm offers a beautiful hymn of praise. Everything in church life and in personal life should be rooted in praise and worship. From this, the Psalmist offers a reminder that God’s people should share personal testimony (66:13-15) and also corporate witness to those around them (66:6-13). There are two very specific invitations using the different senses: Come and see what God has done (66:5) and ‘come and hear all you who fear God’. (66:16) The challenge for today is to consider how to live and work and pray in a strange new world.
The Philosophers’ Stone
The second reading provides a case study of how to share testimony with those around.
Since it is still impossible to travel widely, type Mars Hill or Aeropagus, Athens into the search engine and take the ‘magic carpet’ of technology to visit this stunning landscape.
When Paul stood on this spot, he begins where his hearers are, physically and metaphorically. From that location he would see the temples and altars dedicated to the pantheon of deities they all knew; he also knew the beliefs and modes of debating that the Epicurean and the Stoic philosophers who were present, would use in their gatherings. So here, at the Athenian Philosophers’ Society, Paul uses hyperbole: Athenians, I see how religious you are …
Then, pointing out the altar to the unknown god, Paul’s coherent address introduces the Creator of the cosmos, who is the Lord of life, as one who is transcendent and therefore completely different to many of the gods honoured in the various temples around. Paul challenges them because the very presence of this altar to the unknown god, must indicate a very human yearning for a deity worthy of worship.
And now that they are listening, this is exactly the point where the message becomes challenging – the creature cannot make an idol of the creator. And carefully, Paul’s speech begins to turn towards his understanding of the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. And although many want to listen again, not all find faith on this occasion (Acts 17:32-34).
A Christian response to suffering
Unlike the book of Revelation (which addresses widespread, organised state persecution), 1 Peter 3 offers pastoral advice to those being sneered at, or slandered for following Christ. The recommendation is to carry on being a shining example of those who can speak about their faith with gentleness and reverence. Don’t worry about those who seem to have power (and of course, slave owners probably believed they had great power over their human property), focus instead on the true power and righteousness of God.
There is no answer to why people suffer in this letter, any more than there is an answer elsewhere in Scripture. Just a reminder that the suffering Christ stands in the midst of suffering, and that the resurrection of Christ offers hope in the darkness of pain and despair.
Paraclete
So, how might that help when life is difficult? It helps because of the promise of the Risen Christ is to send another to be with us. This promise comes between a repeated injunction, which acts just like a door frame inviting us in: if you love me, you will keep my commandments (14:15 & 21)
I choose the Greek ‘Parakletos’ because it is rich in meaning and doesn’t easily condense into one English word. It means the one who comes alongside, acts as the advocate or counsellor, helper, comforter and witness. The paraclete is also the one who will help us to offer consolation and challenge within the fellowship and outside the fellowship.
Perhaps we could do no better than to turn each Christian home into a hermitage to the Paraclete. And when our church buildings are able to be used again, what kind of hermitage should they be in a world transformed?
Prayers:
A personal prayer
I love the simplicity of this short prayer from John birch
When my body is weary Grant me peace When my soul is weary Grant me faith When my spirit is weary Grant me joy.
A prayer for others
O God fill our minds with the remembrance of every moment of our journey when you have been with us, so that our hearts and mouths overflow with praise.
Especially, cause us to recollect the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, when we are unable to gather round your table with one another to share with joy in bread and wine.
Our thoughts turn from our table of blessing to the many who queue for long hours for hand-outs; for all who have nothing to eat, and those who wonder what the next day might bring.
As we cheer our essential workers each week for their dedication, help us to remember the millions around the world for whom sanitation and healthcare would be a luxury.
We pray for those who sit alone, for those who live with others, yet still feel alone.
For all who hold the hands of the dying during their final moments; may each ending be peaceful, and may each carer know your consolation, we pray.
Blessing
With the promise from God the Father to be loved, and the promise of Christ’s peace resting on you, and the consolation of the Spirit to sanctify you, you are blessed indeed. Amen
[1] Betty Radice (Trans). The Letters of Abelard and Heloise. (London: Penguin, 1973), 30
Worship at home 