Fending for the Jailer

During Easter we hear many readings from the Acts of the Apostles.  Last Tuesday’s reading was an unusual story about Paul and Silas who were in prison in Philippi. (Acts 16:22-34) The jailer was told to guard them securely and he did so.  But in the middle of the night there was an earthquake that shook “the foundations of the jail”.  All the doors flew open and the chains of the prisoners were pulled loose.

If you were unjustly jailed and the doors flew open and your chains loosened, what would you do?

I would get my fanny out of that jail as fast as I could! 

But not Paul and Silas.  As Paul suspected, when the jailer realized happened he was ready to kill himself. And Paul shouted: “Don’t harm yourself; we are here.”  They didn’t want to cause problems for the jailer. And the jailer was so touched that they fended for him, that he became a follower of Christ! 

Fending for those who don’t seem to count for much in this world, is what followers of Christ do. Name some people who have fended for you when the chips were down in your life. Consider contacting one of them to just say “Thanks”.  For whom have you fended recently?

                                                             Last Words

When do your loved ones tell you the most important things they want you to hear?

My experience is that I’m more likely to hear those things in an intimate moment or when some kind of crisis is pending or when death is on someone’s mind.     

So it is with Jesus.  In John’s Gospel He raises the most important things He wants His disciples to hear at the Last Supper.  Once the washing of the feet is over and Judas has been dispatched to do what he is going to do, Jesus spends a lot of time telling the others what he really wants them to remember when He’s gone. 

In that context we hear things like:  “Love one another,”  “Remain in my love,” “I will always be with you,” “Don’t let your hearts be troubled,” “I will send you another comforter,” “You will see me again.”

When He says those things His disciples don’t exactly understand what he is talking about.  Only in hindsight does all of that make sense.

What are the most important things you have heard from your loved ones?  What are the things you ultimately want to say to the people you love?  

                                                         The Answer is: The Way

                                       Read  Acts 9:2, Acts 19:23, and Acts 24:14. 

So ‘The Way’ was the earliest name for the growing group of Jesus’ followers after His dying and rising.  They were people on The Way. The source of that description, in Jesus’ own words, is found in John’s Gospel 14:4-6a. It was in last weekend’s Gospel text.

Jesus says: “Where I’m going, you know the way.” And Thomas says: “We don’t know where you're going.  How can we know the way?” And Jesus responds: “I am the way.”

The Way not only indicates Jesus’ path but also Jesus’ way of life.  Jesus' path includes His journey from equality with God, to becoming a ‘slave’ who washes feet, is rejected and crucified. His way of life is unconditional love for people like you and me.

At what point in your life did you become serious about following ‘The Way’ of Jesus? How does that affect the way you live? What’s the hardest part about doing that?  Can you name a particular time when you felt Jesus’ unconditional love for you?    

                                                Jesus the Shepherd and the Gate

The figure of the ‘Good Shepherd’ is the oldest image of Christ depicted in the catacombs of Rome.  It was drawn and etched on the underground burial sites, where the earliest Christian martyrs are buried.  It was a sign of hope and comfort in the risen Lord.

Jesus amplifies that image by adding that He is also the Sheepgate. (Jn. 10:7) This refers to the entrance to the pen where the sheep were kept at night to protect them from wild animals and thieves.  Frequently the ‘gate’ was a shepherd who would lay down across the opening.  As ‘the gate’, Jesus shows that He is willing to lay down His life for us too. 

These images tell us something about who Jesus is for us.  But they also tell us what Jesus wants us to be for each other. 

How is Jesus your Good Shepherd? (Pause and reflect).  Besides Jesus, can you name others who are good shepherds to you?  Think of people for whom you have been a good shepherd? Lastly, who lays down his/her life for you and how do you lay down your life for others?

                                         Listening with Love to Someone’s Story

On the road to Emmaus two disciples are walking away from Jerusalem, leaving behind their community and their hopes in Jesus.  As they travel that road, Jesus appears as a stranger and walks with them.  After asking them what they are talking about, they give Him a blow by blow account of Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, death on a cross and the empty tomb.  

Jesus, the stranger, listens with love to their whole story.  Only then does He explain the scriptures which describe the messiah and the new life he will bring.  He stirs hope in the disciples and they welcome the stranger to dinner. Finally, in the breaking of the bread, they realize that the stranger is Jesus, who is alive!   

Telling our stories and being listened to is key to true human and divine love. 

Here’s a truth about me.  I’m good at listening to someone’s story…for a while.  But  then I start thinking of my own story...not paying such close attention to my friend any more. And I often start telling my story before my friend is done telling his.  I wish I didn’t do that.

How good are you at listening to people’s stories?