The Sixth Sunday of Easter – B – May 5, 2024
Today when Christians are everywhere, it is hard to grasp the magnitude of what Peter experienced in Cornelius’s home. The revelation of Pentecost that took place at the beginning of Acts is slowly becoming clearer to Peter and the early Christian community: the Spirit will not be contained to only those we like, understand, and accept.
Prompted by an angelic message, “What God has made clean, you are not to call profane” (Acts 10:15), Peter accepts an invitation to the home of a centurion of the army that had done the Roman government’s bidding in executing Jesus. And it was in Caesarea, no less, which New Testament scholar Carl Holladay calls in his commentary on Acts “the Roman capital of Judea and thus a symbol of Gentile power.”
“Love one another as I love you” is not a sweet sentiment among friends; it is an act of courage in the name of Christ to see one another, even our enemies, as beloved children of God.
Clearly, Peter was in hostile territory. Cornelius, too, was inviting the state’s enemy into his home. But both trusted what had been revealed to them by God. Both dared to disregard society’s labels and, starting at home, tore down walls of fear and prejudice.
If we let the Spirit of Christ lead us, as Saul did last week, God will redefine our relationships. “Love one another as I love you” is not a sweet sentiment among friends; it is an act of courage in the name of Christ to see one another, even our enemies, as beloved children of God.
Leave a Reply