Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
Reflection
In the picture for today, Belle is in stealth mode. If you look carefully, you can find her. Yes, she is known to hide for naps. This was taken after she popped her head up. Before that, she was almost entirely invisible. She is also really good at playing the second role of hide-and-seek. Belle, of course, can cheat and use her nose.
Today's portion of Saul/Paul's story involves a dramatic switch from power mode to stealth mode. Was the opening in the wall a known window or opening like many artistic representations, or was is a secret? I can't help but think about the crafty goodness of people along the Underground Railroad. Yes, this is surely when the rebellious part of our nature makes God smirk and feel a sense of pride at our persistent ability to subvert evil, rescue and escape to fight another day. Sure, when we are organized and together, we can take on darkness and evil head on, but oftentimes we need to be sneaky and careful. In fact, I wonder if we do not take Jesus' words enough to heart ("Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves"). We should be sure that we have stealth mode or preaching mode at the ready to outsmart the greedy and the wicked, the corrupt and the hypocrites.
Prayer
God of our living days,
Bring us peace in truly knowing you, passion in faithfully serving you, and contentment in diligently following your Way. Teach us to love our enemies and increase in us wisdom to live, work and play in ways that perpetuate your goodness. Empower us to advocate for those who are oppressed and betrayed by injustice. Give us grace to work hard and ethically for the betterment of your Reign. Show us ways to be better stewards of Creation. In the Name of Jesus, your Son, our Lord, we pray. Amen.
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