Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, April 15, 2024
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
“Much annoyed.” This makes me chuckle. It’s so terribly understated. On the other hand, it’s not funny at all, because this “annoyance” among the authorities of the time would soon lead to harsh persecution of the early Christians, including the death of many, many of them. It’s scary to watch the political and social scene play out in the United States lately. If only we were all capable of keeping things to being “much annoyed” by our differences. It seems as though these days we escalate instantly from much annoyed to completely outraged, and lash out on social media, verbally in person, and even with threats of violence and actual violence. We’re increasingly polarized and intolerant of any view that doesn’t fit with our own. And this is what leads to the kind of unspeakable acts visited on marginalized groups throughout history (the early Christians being one of them).
The hope in this passage is in the five thousand who heard the good news and became Christians in spite of the Sadducees annoyance. We are all still called into this work of peace and community no matter what is going on around us. We can still learn to de-escalate our own rhetoric, to open our hearts and minds to listen to other’s concerns without judgment. It’s a lot of work, but it’s good work.
Have I become more polarized in my viewpoint? Has it come out in negative ways toward others? Do I owe any apologies?
