Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: ‘The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,
“Go to this people and say,
You will indeed listen, but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.”’ ”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, May 21, 2022
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Rome was the center of everything. Since the Roman Empire had conquered so much, countries and communities for hundreds of miles were governed by magistrates and emperors of Rome. The city of Rome was a hub or diverse cultures, arts, entertainment, religions, and debate. It only made sense that Paul would venture to Rome to preach the gospel. He started, of course, by preaching to the Jews living in Rome, since Jesus was a Jew trying to shift Jewish thinking and behavior.
But many Jews in Rome weren’t interested in hearing what Paul had to say. It’s understandable that Jews living in Rome likely often heard speeches from people of other faith traditions trying to persuade them to believe and convert. Maybe Paul was just another of these pagans trying to lure them away from their faith.
And yet, Paul was a Jew and a citizen of Rome. His connection to Israel made his words more meaningful and more dangerous. Many of the Jews there weren’t having it. They turned their backs on Paul and some even plotted to have Paul killed.
But Paul fought back. He knew God had anticipated that at some point the Jews would be unwilling or unable to hear God’s words. Paul used their own words against them and shamed them for their stubbornness.
It can be hard to change, especially something as personal and meaningful as one’s faith, spirituality, or religion. While few of us are asked by God to make a change as big as the one Paul was asking, we are still sometimes resistant to new ideas that could shake our faith. What new idea has threatened to shake your faith, and what will you do with that idea?
