9 May 2021
Sixth Sunday of Easter
“The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.”
The reading in Acts today reveals something about God’s action in the world. When Peter shows up to the house of Cornelius – a God-fearing Gentile – he comes to share the Good news with the whole household. While he is telling them the good news, “the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.” These non-Jewish, unbaptized people were manifesting the same gifts and the same Spirit as Peter and the others. This act of the Spirit astounds Peter and the other circumcised Jewish believers in Christ in the room. How could it be that non-Jewish people could receive the Holy Spirit without Baptism and without circumcision? What is the Spirit teaching Peter and us through this? Historically speaking, the Spirit is teaching that the gentiles were desired by God to be part of his Kingdom. Peter responds to this invitation by baptizing Cornelius into a new life in Christ.
Sacramentally, the lesson is that God is not bound by his Sacraments in how he pours his grace out into the world, even if the Sacraments are sure and necessary means for us receiving God’s grace. God’s actions will lead others to the Church, and to the Sacraments, but it may be in ways that are mysterious to us or which do not follow the expected path. Spiritually, the lesson is that our God is a God who will always surprise us both in how he acts, and who he calls to be with him. Are we open to be spiritually surprised by God like Peter? Are we open to ways God might be acting in our life that may not be according to “the plan” as we understand it? Are we open to being – like Peter – God’s instrument of bringing others into his family, others who may surprise us? We are an Easter people, and our God is “making all things new” as we see in Acts today. Let us pray for the grace to be like Peter who remains open to respond to the newness of God in our life and ministry.