Sunday Stretch: Vol. 31

Start off your week with a grounded take on Bible, prayer, the world, and your life ...

Maybe it’s the 80-degree weather that turned to snow and 20 degrees this weekend; maybe it’s the fact that I drove in freezing rain home last Sunday for 3+ hours from a basketball tournament in Iowa, but as I read over and research this week’s texts, I can’t help but feel a little bit exhausted.

This post-Easter season is supposed to be one of action and excitement, and the Lectionary texts reflect that fact. Echoing last week, we have Peter speaking boldly to the disciples and a crowd of Jewish followers of Jesus in Jerusalem, leading up to Pentecost. We have exhortation and witness from the letter of 1 Peter. And then we have the strange and awe-filled journey of two unknown disciples of Jesus, one named Cleopas, walking down the Road to Emmaus and joined - ultimately - by Jesus, whom they do not recognize at first.

I love that last story. It helps me make sense of the first two, and reminds me God’s presence sometimes comes in moments that feel heavy, exhausting, or even anxiety-filled.

Let’s get to the texts.

The Road to Emmaus Canvas Print, by Daniel Bonnell

Bible Stories

Acts 2:14    But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

Acts 2:36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Acts 2:37   Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”  ³⁸ Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  ³⁹ For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”  ⁴⁰ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”  ⁴¹ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

As I read this passage, I’m moved by the reaction of the listeners to Peter to his accusation of them in verse 36. Luke, the writer of Acts, tells us that when they were accused of crucifying Jesus, even though it had been in fact the Roman government who had ordered and carried out Jesus’ execution, those who listened to Peter were “cut to the heart,” and asked: “Brothers, what should we do?”