Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“They set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, April 24, 2024
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Change can be threatening to some people. Because it’s not really change that we fear, but the loss that change entails. The loss of the familiar, of the comfortable. Especially if there’s a loss—or a perceived loss—of power involved. This is what these witnesses are railing against. And they really aren’t false witnesses at all. Jesus does, in fact, change everything, and Stephen does, in fact, name it as such. Maybe the whole “he never stops saying things” is a fabrication. Maybe Stephen was fairly quiet about his faith, preferring to just act in service to the widows, with which he had been tasked. But following this passage, he certainly does talk—explicitly—about Jesus and what his ministry meant, resulting in his death.
What this says to me is that words are powerful in bringing about change. Yes, actions are necessary, but it starts with someone being bold enough to speak truth to the status quo. And this is sometimes dangerous, as those with power are especially invested in preventing a change in that fact.
God invites us to speak up. To proclaim the reign of Christ—one characterized by justice and equity for all people. At the same time, God invites us to embrace change, because we, ourselves, can be hesitant to speak the truth if we know it will mean we have to change, too. Change can be scary. But it can also be exciting and wonderful and filled with joyful expectation! We can greet it with expectation and, most likely, it won’t kill us.
When have I been afraid of a change in my life? What was the result?
