They strengthened the spirits of the
disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the Kingdom of God.”
They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the Kingdom of God.”
They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
When the Apostles Paul and Barnabas visited the new Christian communities in the
several towns of Asia Minor, and then appointed presbyters to lead them, they
took their time. They waited upon the Lord with prayer and fasting, and asked God
to bestow upon these infant churches the Spirit of Jesus. They knew they would “undergo
many hardships.”
That part of the world continues to suffer. They
witnessed the disintegration of the Byzantine Empire, the invasion of Muslims, and
the Crusades. The First World War swept
through this area, and destroyed the Ottoman Empire. Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk initiated the first genocide
of the 20th century with his killing of Christian Armenians. Today
Turkey suffers the proximity of Syria and the refugees who, fleeing the war,
bring it with them. Every age challenges Christians and the Church in Asia
Minor has seen many ages.
Paul and Barnabas strengthened the spirits of the disciples, in part, by appointing
presbyters. Before there was a Christian Bible there were priests and
bishops commissioned to maintain the spirit of Jesus in the Church. They would
do this by example and exhortation, with works of charity and ceremony.
They were not supermen with
extraordinary abilities of insight and wisdom. Their ministry was only partly
evangelical, announcing the gospel where it has not been heard. It was also planning,
organizing and scheduling so that the community could worship God by the Spirit
within. Someone must choose the songs, someone should ask for volunteers,
someone must count the collection and distribute it according to the needs of
the Church. Someone should enunciate the unceasing Prayer of the Church, recalling
to everyone how “He took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to his
disciples.” If God's people will always need inspired priests, priests will always need an inspired people of God.
So long as the people remain in that
communion they can be assured of Jesus’ words, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.