Read: Acts of the Apostles 16:22-34; John 16:5-11 The justice meted out to Paul and Silas seems to be more about mob rule than about what is right and wrong. It raises the question of our understanding of sin and what it is. And as the Gospel makes clear, central to that question is the question about Christ. He gives us a very definite view of what sin is. His view, however, is one that is at odds with that of others, which is why he ended up being put to death and why his disciples face so much opposition. The injustice, the lack of integrity, the lack of love, all point to sin and to a lack of understanding of what sin is. The actions of Paul and Silas, however show that their lives are not dominated by selfish interests, but that they have begun to live according to a new vision of life and what is right and wrong. The gaoler recognises this and becomes a believer; he saw the difference between the pagan way of life and the Christian way of life that comes because we choose to live according to the victory of Christ over sin and injustice. Unfortunately we do not always live that way. Our lives as disciples are often lived as if injustice and evil had won the battle with Christ and that was the only reality we knew. We are called to live with a different ideal, with a different hope, we are called to live in the light of the victory of Christ, we are called to live with love in a world that is still in shadow.
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 05:46:47 +0000