And Many Believed

Life and death.  Death and Life.  Scenes of death and destruction are infused in our consciousness from the array of media communications:  the carnage of the Boston Marathon bombings; the fire at the fertilizer plant in West, TX with flames and smoke billowing into the air carrying the dangers of anhydrous ammonia; innocent looking letters with ricin within; and of course the daily deaths throughout the world where violence prevails.  These scenes are burned into our consciousness in a non-ending stream.

So where does the resurrection of our shepherd, Jesus the Christ speak to us of the possibilities of new life conquering the pervasiveness of death?  Three weeks after our Easter celebration, we hear another story of resurrection.  The apostle, Peter is called to Joppa where the widow, Tabitha (or Dorcas in Greek, which means gazelle) has died.  Tabitha was a disciple (the first known feminine use of the word "disciple" in the New Testament) who was devoted to good works and acts of charity, providing robes and other clothing for the poorest of the poor - the widows.  In Acts 9: 36 - 43, Peter responds to the community surrounding Tabitha who have placed their hope in his healing power by washing Tabitha and laying her in an upstairs room.  Notably Tabitha's beloved friends have NOT anointed her for burial. Peter raised Tabitha from death and showed her to be alive.

AND MANY BELIEVED - PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE MASTER.

This miracle points us to the mighty power of God working in the world.  God's story does not end with the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.  The hope that accompanies healing is a powerful demonstration that God was at work through the disciples in Peter's time - and is still at work in our time today as we shepherd one another.

Alongside the images of bloody bodies and lost limbs in Boston were the first responders who rushed toward the wounded:  doctors who had just finished the race; medical volunteers; firefighters and police; and innumerable citizens who pulled off their belts to use for tourniquets as ambulances surged into the melee.  Like Tabitha who was surrounded by friends and community who took action in the adrenaline of hope, we see miracles upon miracles of people pulling together to respond - the power of a shepherding community pulling together.  Death is all too real.  But the life-giving power of the hope of resurrection reminds us that God enters into the shadows of the valley of death alongside us.  When we're able to "see and be" communities of people operating in this hope, our faith shines in the darkness.  We walk in faith and trust, and many continue to believe.  And many more will put their trust in our Master Shepherd.  And the visions of the kingdom coming slowly to realization is alive as we respond.  Revelation 7: 9-17 is a cacophany of praise to God as we stand before the throne of the Lamb singing:  "Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!"

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley