ISSL Reflections June 4 2023 Isaiah 52:7–12 Post 2

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IV.
In the first post on this week’s focus Scripture, we focused on what “the messenger … [announced].”

Today let’s see what images he associates with God’s reign. After all he does tell us, “… in plain sight they see…”

What do you see?

V.
Isaiah 52:7-12 (NRSVue)

How beautiful upon the mountains
     are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
     who announces salvation,
     who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices;
     together they shout for joy,
for in plain sight they see
     the return of the Lord to Zion.

Break forth; shout together for joy,
     you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
     he has redeemed Jerusalem.

The Lord has bared his holy arm
     before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
     the salvation of our God.

Depart, depart, go out from there!
     Touch no unclean thing;
go out from the midst of it; purify yourselves,
     you who carry the vessels of the Lord.

For you shall not go out in haste,
     and you shall not go in flight,
for the Lord will go before you,
     and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

VI.
I see folk “shout together for joy.”

I see the “sentinels” and wonder who they are and what they are saying.

I see people who “carry vessels of the Lord” and wonder what kind of vessels these are.

What expressions do you see on the people’s faces?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 4 2023 Isaiah 52:7–12 Post 1

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I.
With this week’s Scripture focus, we begin paying attention to a set of Scriptures which focus on the Reign of God/Kingdom of God.

We will first turn our attention to several of the Hebrew prophets, then to the New Testament Gospels and Epistles.

This week we look to words from the prophet Isaiah.

He begins by speaking of the “… messenger who announces … God reigns.”

As you spend time with this passage look for what the messenger associates with the announcement of God’s Kingdom.

II.
Isaiah 52:7-12 (NRSVue)

How beautiful upon the mountains
     are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
     who announces salvation,
     who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices;
     together they shout for joy,
for in plain sight they see
     the return of the Lord to Zion.

Break forth; shout together for joy,
     you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
     he has redeemed Jerusalem.

The Lord has bared his holy arm
     before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
     the salvation of our God.

Depart, depart, go out from there!
     Touch no unclean thing;
go out from the midst of it; purify yourselves,
     you who carry the vessels of the Lord.

For you shall not go out in haste,
     and you shall not go in flight,
for the Lord will go before you,
     and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

III.
What did you notice?

I heard the messenger speak of “peace,” “good news,” “salvation,” and “joy.”

What else do you notice?

Do you sense a “shout for joy” is to be part of our response to the messenger?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 28 2023 Acts 9:1-19 Post 3

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VII.
Today, let’s pay attention to the encounter of these two men.

What strikes you about them before their encounter with one another, then how they engage with one another, and then where they are after their encounter.

VIII.
Acts 9:1-19 (NRSVue)

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

IX.
In the scenes before us what kind(s) of power and resources do they have as we first see them.

Do you think they would have initially regarded each other as enemies? Do you think Ananias is the kind of man that Saul wanted to bind and bring to Jerusalem?

Ananias calls Saul, “Brother Saul.”

What did it take for Ananias to come to that understanding?

How do you think Saul hears Ananias when he calls him a brother?

Can you recall a time when you were surprised when someone extended such a word of acceptance and affection to you?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 28 2023 Acts 9:1-19 Post 2

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IV.
In the last post I asked you to pay attention to Saul and today I’d like us to focus our attention on Ananias.

What do you learn about him in this section of Scripture?

V.
Acts 9:1-19 (NRSVue)

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

VI.
First off, he is called a disciple and he responds to a vision with, “Here I am, Lord.”

How often do we encounter that phrase in Scripture? Who can you recall having said such or something very similar?

While we first hear Ananias acknowledging God’s call, after he has a few more details of his “mission” he seems somewhat reluctant to “Get up and go…”

Why? Are his worries and concerns about the character and resources of Saul well grounded or not?

What persuades him to accept the task God calls him to?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 28 2023 Acts 9:1-19 Post 1

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I.
This week we spend time paying attention to how Saul’s journey to Damascus was cut short.

Prior to this incident, we read in Acts that Saul was present at the stoning of Stephen, and consented to his stoning (Acts 7:58, 8:1) and that he was “was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.” (Acts 8:3)

Today, let’s notice the intention of his trip to Damascus and what stops him along the way.

II.
Acts 9:1-19 (NRSVue)

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

III.
As we first meet Saul, what impression does he make on you?

Is he an angry man? Is he a religious man? Do you think he believes he is on a “holy” task to stamp out the followers of “the Way”?

What do you think might lie behind these actions of his?

And then comes a light, a fall and a voice.

Do you think he might be beginning to realize he is not as important and powerful as he wanted to think he was?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 21 2023 Acts 8:26–39 Post 3

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VII.
What questions does the Ethiopian official ask of Philip?

VIII.
Acts 8:26-39 (NRSVue)

Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south[a] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
     and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
          so he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
     Who can describe his generation?
          For his life is taken away from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing.

IX.
“How can I [understand] unless someone guides me?”

“About whom … does the prophet say this …?”

Many of us come to Scripture with questions and stand in need of some guidance. Philip was there for this man.

Who has been your guide to deepening your understanding of Scripture?

And then, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”

Since Philip baptized the man, we have to assume Philip’s answer was, “There is nothing to prevent it.”

Does it seem to you that Philip saw the Kingdom of God as a place for people to be included and not excluded?

How comfortable are you with a radically inclusive Kingdom? What brings you to that place?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 21 2023 Acts 8:26–39 Post 2

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IV.
What have you noticed about the Ethiopian?

What stands out to you?

V.
Acts 8:26-39 (NRSVue)

Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south[a] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
     and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
          so he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
     Who can describe his generation?
          For his life is taken away from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing.

VI.
Let’s see – He is an Ethiopian and not an Israelite; he is a high ranking official in the royal court; if he is incharge of the treasury, I suspect he has proved himself worthy of trust; it appears he has gone to Jerusalem for the Passover, so maybe he is already a proselyte to Judaism or interested in being such; he has a copy of the scroll of Isaiah (or at least a portion of the scroll of Isaiah) when I suspect most people did not have access to such; he is a eunuch.

I find it interesting that at Deuteronomy 23:1 eunuchs are prohibited from the “assembly of the Lord,” and at Isaiah 53:6-8 a time is referenced when they are included.

Maybe he thought the time was nearing when he could be fully included in the “assembly of the Lord”?

Was it near?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 21 2023 Acts 8:26–39 Post 1

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I.
As we spend time with this passage, notice the description of the one talking with Philip.

II.
Acts 8:26-39 (NRSVue)

Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south[a] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
     and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
          so he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
     Who can describe his generation?
          For his life is taken away from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing.

III.
We have the recounting of a conversation and “bible study” between Philip (one of the initial twelve called by Jesus to follow him) and a chariot passenger.

How is the chariot passenger described?

Notice where he comes from, where he has been, his “job,” and what he asks of Philip.

Why do you think such details are important?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 14 2023 Acts 3:1–11 Post 3

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VII.
As we give this passage our attention today, let’s walk with Peter and John to afternoon prayers at the Temple.

Try putting yourself alongside them and pay attention to who you see, what you and Peter and John talk about on the way to the Temple, who else is going to afternoon prayers and most of all to the disabled man who “[fixes] his attention” on Peter, John and you.

VIII.
Acts 3:1-11 (NRSVue)

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. 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 astonishment at what had happened to him.

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished.

IX.
It is likely that there were set times for morning, afternoon and evening prayers at the Temple. Faithful Jewish men would often go to one or more of these times of prayer. Peter and John count themselves not only as disciples of Jesus but also as observant Jewish men who take Temple prayer seriously.

And this day they are interrupted on the way to their time of prayer.

How do you feel about the interruption? Would you rather just pass by the man who is hoping to receive some coins from you? Or, would you give him a few coins so you could get on to the important work of afternoon prayer?

Peter and John didn’t ignore him but rather “looked intently at him.”

How easy is it for us to ignore people when we think we have more important things to do? Like going to a prayer service at church?

Peter and John offered the man what they had – a healing word from Jesus, and then helped him to his feet.

Consider what Jesus might be asking you to offer those you meet on your way.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 14 2023 Acts 3:1–11 Post 2

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IV.
Today, let’s take some time to pay attention to the interaction of Peter and John with the disabled man.

V.
Acts 3:1-11 (NRSVue)

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. 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 astonishment at what had happened to him.

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished.

VI.
So what happens?

Well, they ask for his attention, “… Look at us.”

Apparently the disabled man takes this as a promising sign, “And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.”

But his expectations are short lived, “Peter said, ‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you …‘”

This man’s daily routine seems to ask for alms from those who go to the Temple to pray. How often did he receive alms? How often was he ignored by those on the way to pray to God?

This day he receives a “gift” – “‘… 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…”

On the part of Peter there is no, “I’ll pray for your healing when I am in the Temple.” Or, “Trust God for your healing.” Or, “Have a blessed day, just trust God.”


Peter tells him to “stand up and walk.” Please notice what is next, “And he took him by the right hand and raised him up…”

Is it enough to tell someone to pray? Is it enough to tell someone to stand on their own two feet?

Or maybe our call to be disciples of Jesus includes our helping folk to their feet.

How might you enter into such a helping ministry?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}