People Are Neither Unclean nor Profane

God's Urgent Call
Calling of Prophets

Called to Be Inclusive

Acts 10:9-20 The Message

9-13 The next day as the three travelers were approaching the town, Peter went out on the balcony to pray. It was about noon. Peter got hungry and started thinking about lunch. While lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the skies open up. Something that looked like a huge blanket lowered by ropes at its four corners settled on the ground. Every kind of animal and reptile and bird you could think of was on it. Then a voice came: “Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.”
14 Peter said, “Oh, no, Lord. I’ve never so much as tasted food that was not kosher.”
15 The voice came a second time: “If God says it’s okay, it’s okay.”
16 This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the skies.
17-20 As Peter, puzzled, sat there trying to figure out what it all meant, the men sent by Cornelius showed up at Simon’s front door. They called in, asking if there was a Simon, also called Peter, staying there. Peter, lost in thought, didn’t hear them, so the Spirit whispered to him, “Three men are knocking at the door looking for you. Get down there and go with them. Don’t ask any questions. I sent them to get you.”

For Reflection

Peter had a problem.  His problem was that he had been a Jew.  In this case, Peters religion called for a strict adherence to the Mosaic law and all the other laws which followed them. His prejudices against the Gentiles would have prevented him from ministering to those considered unclean or who did not follow Kosher eating habits.

God intervenes in a dream to show Peter that the Christ event modified the Mosiac law and God showed Peter the meaning of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection. To accept God's grace and be saved from the seduction of the worldly wisdom one does not have to be a Jew nor does one have to adhere to Jewish tradition.

God loves us all.  God's will is that we all should live in the hollow of God's hands. Gods offer of reconciliation is open to all.

Pray

Pray prayers of thanksgiving to the living God.  Pray that when God's hand seems unpredictable and counter to your expectations that you will have unwavering trust in God's judgment.  Pray for all who understand the Gospel and accept it.  Pray that those who hear and do not accept God's saving grace will repent and return to become a faithful follower.