Them & Us

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" (Acts 11:15-17)

Cornelius was a Roman soldier who believed in God and gave regularly to help those who were poor - and he was a gentile (not Jewish). God spoke to Cornelius and told him to send for Simon Peter, and he did as he was commanded. God also spoke to Peter through what must have seemed like a nightmarish vision. In the vision a sheet came down from heaven filled with animals that were traditionally considered to be unclean.

13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (Acts 10:13-15)

This happened three times! To Peter's credit, he let go of his previous exclusive notions and went on to welcome gentiles into the fold. As people of the cross we are called to die to anything in us that is contrary to God so we can rise up to new understandings that may not conform to our traditions. But to love like Jesus is to also be people of the basin and towel - the symbols of foot washing, symbols of service. Love with feet serves all we meet.

34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)