Throughout the season of Easter, our first reading comes not from the Hebrew Bible as we’re used to, but rather from the book of Acts. Though sometimes referred to as the “Acts of the Apostles”, it would be more fitting, perhaps, to think of it as the “Acts of the Holy Spirit.” The book of Acts opens with the ascension of Jesus and the coming of the promised Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Unpredictable, she blows in like the rush of a violent wind, accompanied by tongues of fire which rest on each person gathered there. The Holy Spirit empowered them to understand in a new way, sending them out for life together characterized by fellowship and generosity - not just in Jerusalem, but to the ends of the earth.
Looking out over the crowd, struck with amazement and confusion at the signs of the Spirit’s presence, Peter addressed them with words from the prophet Joel: “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh…” God was at work; the Spirit was on the move! As the stories of Acts unfold, we see the effects of that poured-out, unleashed Holy Spirit. Her movement will not be constrained by our limited understanding of God’s expansive grace, nor by our tendency to stubbornly cling to familiar and comforting boundaries. Nowhere is this clearer than in today’s story about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.
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| Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, from Art in the Christian Tradition |
Philip had been chosen alongside Stephen and five others to give special care to the believers from outside the region of Judea. Following Stephen’s death, when the apostles were scattered because of persecution, Philip went to Samaria - a place most definitely on the margins - to proclaim the Messiah to them. Then, prompted by the Spirit, Philip heads south, to the wilderness road that stretches from Jerusalem to Gaza.
On that road, Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch - a court official of the queen. Despite the political power conveyed by his position, the ambiguity surrounding his gender and sexuality because of his castration (likely without his consent) and lack of testosterone would have made him a social outcast. Though he had traveled to Jerusalem with the intention to worship, it’s unclear if he would have been able to do so, as his status as a eunuch would have barred him from the Temple, according to the law found in Deuteronomy 23:1.
When Peter proclaimed that the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh, I wonder if he could have imagined such a scenario. Would this person - an outsider if there ever was one, because of his place of origin as well as his gender identity and sexuality - could this person really be included in the outpouring of the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit?
Sent by the Spirit, Philip runs to join the chariot as it passes by. He recognizes part of the scroll of Isaiah being read, and inquires if the Ethiopian understands what he’s reading. How can he, he replies, unless someone guides him? And so he invites Philip to come alongside him.
As the chariot rolls on, Philip explains this text from Isaiah, then moves into proclaiming the story of Jesus - his life and ministry, his death and resurrection. The Spirit stirs up in the Ethiopian a call to be part of the community Philip describes, and when he sees a body of water there along the road, he boldly declares, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”
Far too many times, our response to this question, especially when coming from someone on the margins, has been less than welcoming, if not openly hostile. “What is to prevent you? Everything!” This isn’t how we’ve always done things, we might be quick to point out. You haven’t taken the class yet. You can’t possibly understand. Do you really believe? You seem very nice, but we follow the Bible and this just isn’t done for someone in your “situation”.
And yet, this is not Philip’s response. Maybe he’s speechless, or maybe by this time he is more attuned to the unpredictable work of the Spirit. Whatever it is, when the Ethiopian commands the chariot to stop, Philip follows him down into the water and baptizes him, right then and there. Because, of course, there’s nothing to prevent it. Despite the traditions and rules and comfort level of the “insiders”, there is not one thing that can stand in the way of the Spirit’s call to new life with and in God. Not ethnicity or place of origin, not knowledge or lack of knowledge, not physical characteristics or gender identity or sexuality. When the prophet declared that the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh, that really meant all flesh.
The work of the Holy Spirit is indeed expansive and empowering. As we hear in Luther’s explanation to the third article of the Apostle’s Creed, “I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with [her] gifts, made me holy, and kept me in the true faith, just as [she] calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth.”
Who are we to deny the Holy Spirit’s call to those we deem “outsiders”? Hasn’t the Spirit called even us?
We have been recipients of God’s expansive welcome and abundant grace. We have stepped into the waters of baptism, receiving salvation, forgiveness, and life. Through no work or merit of our own, we have been claimed as God’s beloved children, and joined to God’s family; a family of people strengthened and empowered by the Holy Spirit, a family not constrained by any earthly divisions.
Most times, a shift in our perspective of welcome has come not because of our attitudes, but in spite of them. Most times, it is because of the boldness of those pushed to the margins - boldness to answer the call and claim their rightful place in God’s family. For God’s expansive grace, and for the call of the Holy Spirit, we give thanks.
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