Devotion
By what power have you done this?
David Jacobs
I was involved in a physical altercation between two strangers that ended up with me getting in a bit of legal trouble. I was walking home in a busy part of the city where I was living when I noticed a large crowd in front of me. Everyone was watching something, and as I grew closer, I could hear two persons shooting. Suddenly I could see what the commotion was about: a man and a woman were arguing about something, and it appeared that he had hit her several times. I did not know these people, and I, and everyone else around me, hoped that the man would stop considering so many people were watching. Unfortunately, he did not stop, and I could not watch it continue. I was physically much larger than the man, so I came up behind him and took him to the ground. I held him there until the police arrived, and they took him away. However, because I was involved in the dispute and the man said I had hurt him, I also had to go to the station.
In that story, I knew there was a chance that there would be repercussions for my physical actions against a stranger. Luckily nothing happened to me, but there was a possibility. In the verses above, Peter and John are justifiably upset: in chapter 4 of Acts, they are arrested for healing the hand of a beggar outside of the temple. The priests asked Peter and John, "by what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" (Acts 4:7) They had had enough of this situation, knowing that they had done no wrong, boldly exclaiming that they were devotees of Christ, the man who they had killed. After learning that they were Disciples of Christ, Peter and John were freed.
Everybody has their limits. We must consider the meaning of our limits, however, making sure that they are in line with the teachings of Christ. They may not always be in accordance with the laws of nations, but we must remain loyal and obedient to the most noble power of all: God.
Prayer
Lord my Heavenly Father, grant me the strength to carry forward your word to those who need it most. Help settle my boundaries in accordance with your word, so that I do not overstep and assume to know on your behalf. Forgive those that know not of your teachings, and give me the courage to stand in front of them, proclaiming that you are the one true God. Amen.
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Devotion
Martha or Mary
Frances Taylor
The age old question of who's right! There's a commercial for an automobile company that uses the slogan of "either/or, or both/and" that I kind of like. Not that I'm supporting the company, but because I believe we sometimes think in an either/or way when it's really important to be a both/and kind of person. In today's gospel, Martha is busy about hospitality and Mary extends hospitality in a quieter manner. We need both, and we need to be both. There are times when we need to be about doing what Jesus tells us to do, but if all we do is "do" and we don't take the time to listen, we just might get it wrong. Mary sits and listens to Jesus while Martha feels overwhelmed with her tasks. When Martha complains, Jesus tells her not to be anxious and worried, and I think that here is the key. When we take the time to sit and listen to Jesus and then move on to follow the will of God, we don't have to be anxious and worried; we can relax in the knowledge ...
