Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“And he said to them, ‘You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, May 7, 2022
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Is it just me or is this exchange just a bit awkward? For some reason, Peter found it necessary to point out to his host that he shouldn’t be there because the host and his family and friends are unclean. But, of course, God had given Peter permission and directed him not to consider people unclean. It sounds a little like a thinly veiled insult to me.
But Cornelius was not deterred. He shared with Peter his vision (wait—the Gentile had a vision from God, too?!). He humbly asked Peter to stay and to share the good news with them.
There are always opportunities, even today, for us to have a hard time knowing exactly what to say in situations that make us uncomfortable or that feel awkward. Especially now, when tensions around race, gender, and politics have bubbled to the surface, it can be easy to avoid having difficult conversations with people it is difficult to agree with or understand. But Peter’s willingness to commune with Gentiles, and Cornelius’ willingness to open his home to a Christian can be examples of how we might boldly face our fears and start those conversations, even when we don’t know what to say.
