April 23, 2018 Monday of the 4th week of Easter B
Acts of the Apostles 11:1-18
Psalm 42
John 10:1-10
“…who was I to be able to hinder God?” Acts 11:17
“I came so that they might have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Lord, Luke tells us today about a colossal turning point in the story of your young church. Peter initially holds to centuries of traditional division between Jew and Gentile. He was brought up in that division, it’s the way it has always been. But the Holy Spirit was working for a new day and a new offering of your gift of salvation to ALL mankind. Peter let the Spirit move him to take a big risk and so he extended Baptism and welcome to Cornelius and eventually to all the people of the earth. Lord, we too can be reluctant when you are leading us to new ways of living the abundant life you came to give. We can hold on to what we are comfortable with and even stand in the way of the Spirit’s work. May I be open to whatever you want to do in my life. Let me never hinder the new and wonderful ways you seek to expand the life you want for me. Lord, I can be stubborn at times and you may have to keep at me like you did Peter. Give me the faith and the trust that you have everything under control and know what is best. Amen.