Seventh Sunday of Easter 2019

Lectionary reading: Acts 16:16-34

Notes:

There are five functions of human society, as given by God:

move—we are sent into the world, to bless;

listen—hear, O Israel;

share—the gospel, or good news;

care—the Lord is compassionate in nature;

learn—gain wisdom.

[The biblical terms for these five functions are apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, shepherding, and teaching.]

Every time we gather, every time we reflect on scripture together, we are going to attend to these five functions, in order that we might learn how to live more authentically human lives, as a community of faith.

How does this passage move the story on?

Paul and his companions have planted the first church in Europe, the household of Lydia, whom they had met at the ‘place of prayer’ outside Philippi. Now we see them returning to the place of prayer for many days: probably to meet with Lydia’s network of like-minded friends.

Where do you regularly or habitually go during the week? Who do you meet? Crucially, what do you see?

‘Thy Kingdom Come’ is a call to every Christian to pray every day for ten days for five friends, by name, that they might come to know the love of Jesus, and his call on their lives. Who are your five?

Who speaks? Who listens?

A girl who is a slave, exploited by her owners for their profit. She sees Paul and his companions as also slaves of a god—a higher god than the being who controls her—and as offering a way of salvation. It is a relative gospel: choose the path that works for you. But, in fact, Paul holds out not a way, but the way—the only way—of salvation; and demonstrates it by liberating the girl from captivity.

Her owners also speak, motivated by the loss of hope of making money; and they whip up a crowd into hostility against a scapegoat.

Human trafficking and modern-day slavery are rife, including children forced to grow cannabis or sell drugs in our region. This passage could not be more contemporary or relevant!

Paul and Silas sing hymns in prison—focus on God, not circumstances—and God hears and answers.

The conversation between Paul and the jailer…

Is there any good news to share?

Yes, for the slave girl: freedom from captivity to a demon.

‘More than 200 years after the abolition of the slave trade there are still an estimated 40.3 million men, women and children trapped in modern slavery, and up to 136,000 potential victims in the UK alone.’ theclewerinitiative.org

see the ‘safe car wash’ app from the archbishops’ Council and the Clewer Initiative.

Yes, for the jailer: rescue from suicide—from a twisted honour code.

suicide the number 1 cause of death in men under the age of 50: further info at National Suicide Prevention alliance, nspa.org.uk

Yes, for his household: hope of a change of character?

How is the community nurtured?

The jailer washing Paul and Silas’ wounds; bringing them into his household; eating together. Reminiscent of the Last Supper. ‘New family’ formed around a shared meal. A second household of faith now planted in Philippi, building the church there.

How does this passage connect with what we already know?

It connects with Luke 4:18-19—Jesus’ ‘manifesto’—which in turn connects with Isaiah 61:1-2ff. “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight o the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” What might that look like in our parish?

Change of pattern of worship at St Nicholas’: second and fifth Sundays of the month to be more participative, built around listening to one another in relation to these five functions.