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Theo Tigno•
5/19/2003 6:47 am
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Monday, May 19th 2003 |
Acts 14: 5-18
There was an attempt in Iconium by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas. They realized it, and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside, where they continued to proclaim the Good News.
At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth, who had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed, and called out in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet." He jumped up and began to walk about. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in human form." They called Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes," because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.
The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, "Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways; yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts." Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
Dawg's thought:
Long reading today, so short reflection.
St. Paul shows us why he is a saint: it wasn't about him. He knew that without God he was nothing. He knew that without God, he had nothing. Everything he did after Christ appears to him was a total submission to the will of God.
We need to get knocked off of our high horse often. We have the temptation to point to ourselves versus pointing to God. This is sin, for sin is turning away from God. Our pride turns ourselves into gods because we do not trust in the Lord.
St. Paul was knocked off of a horse once and he learned that it we have been given our lives to glorify God and not ourselves. Do you need to be knocked off of your horse? Take care and God Bless.
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