Image from mostholyfaith.com
Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But I replied, “By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” But a second time the voice answered from heaven, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.” And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 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.” 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?’ When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’ (Acts 11:1-18)
What's more important? What you eat or who you eat with? There are some foods that you might already have decided, "I will not eat those!" And for some, they have decided there are some people they will not eat with. Hmm. The second is the most serious because you have judged some people as being not as good as you or not deserving of your company. This passage addresses both things. The apostle Peter had a vision that spoke to him about his diet and his displeasure. Having been raised a Jew there were certain things that he could not eat. And because he was a Jew there were certain people he could not eat with; namely anyone who was not a Jew. These people are called Gentiles. Yet, God spoke to him in a vision and set him on a new course about his ideas regarding his diet and his discrimination.
The gospel is for all people. We have to love and welcome all people to the faith. We have to get to know those we don't know and maybe, share a meal with them so that we can know each other better. Don't be like the two coworkers who worked alongside each other for 35 years and when they retired at their retirement celebration they found out they were both United Methodists. "You, too?" Sigh. Don't wait 35 years to talk to your coworkers about what you believe and who you are. If you do wait 35 years, they'll know exactly who you are.
PRAYER: Loving God, speak to my fears about sharing my faith and declaring who I am. Help me to spread the good news with all people, especially those by my side each day. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
