Friday, April 6

Carrying on Calling

Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.

Jesus was gone, but Jesus' work was not. Peter and the other apostles picked up the mantle and continued to do Jesus' work of teaching, casting out demons, and healing, all while helping the community of faith grow. So many people came, they had to be healed simply by letting Peter's shadow fall on them. It was a grueling pace, but it was a calling, and Peter had been well prepared for this.

When I consider how people spend their time, I have observed two primary attitudes toward work. One line of thinking suggests that one works to obtain enough money to do the things they love (and the things to which they're called) outside of work hours. Another line of thinking suggests that one works at the thing they love to do and to which they're called, and the money (just enough, sometimes) follows. I think both approaches are valid. What's important isn't necessarily how we get to our calling, but that we get there at all. Whether our calling is our work, or we work to support the thing we're called to, if we have the privilege and take the opportunity to spend time doing that thing we're passionate about, then we are continuing Jesus' work in the world. Then we are living according to God's purpose for our lives.

Narrative Lectionary Text: Acts 5:12-16

Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.