We Came to be Known as Christians

 

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 11:19-26 ~~~ Psalm 87 ~~~ John 10:22-30 ~~~

 

To me one of the beautiful realities about scripture

is how the New Testament is better understood by reading the Old Testament,

especially within the historical context.

But what is even more profound is how the present time

in our journey of faith is better understood

by reading the New Testament, especially now.

Every year after Easter we hear from the Acts of the Apostles.

We hear how the early church flourished

and the number of believers increased daily.

 

Today we hear how we came to be called Christians.

It is obvious that God did indeed send the Holy Spirit.  

He opened the minds and the hearts of many

who heard the message from the apostles and other faithful followers.

 

The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 

 

 Barnabas, like others during this time,

...saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart...

as he traveled from village to village.

 

I wonder where we can witness the grace of God at work today.

This year during the Holy Saturday vigil we welcomed

eighty people into our church.

Surely that was the grace of God at work.

I invite you to look for evidence of the grace of God around you.

 

During the recent tragedy in Boston

the grace of God was evident

through the many who came to the aid

and assistance of the injured. 

Helping a stranger in need must be motivated

by the grace of God through compassion.

 

Today we learn when we were first known as Christians.

Christian...a follower of Christ...the Anointed One.

 

'...in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.'  

 

 

Jesus sent out such strong and deep shock waves

 that we can still feel the effect today

more than two thousand years later.

His teachings turned the world upside down.

We are still trying to emulate who he was.

It is not an easy task, but he is with us to show us the way.

He is the Good Shepherd.

 

My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.

 

 A shepherd would never abandon his sheep,

not even one who strayed away from the flock.

 

I pray to hear the voice of the Shepherd so as not to stray,

but to faithfully follow him.

 

We know how we came to be called Christians.

Another Easter Blessing.

How can we keep from rejoicing?