Scripture Focus: Acts 10.36-43
36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 

Reflection: Knocking on Heaven’s Door
By John Tillman

The time of Cornelius’ afternoon prayer and vision is the same time that devout Jews prayed. During his regular practice of prayer, God’s message came to Cornelius.

Even though he was a Yahweh worshiper, Cornelius would only have been allowed into the outer court of the Temple to pray. However, his acts of generosity to the poor and his devotion to prayer were better than the offerings of goats or bulls he might have made. Cornelius knocked and Heaven’s door opened. (Luke 11.9)

Peter would also have been in prayer and meditation when he was confronted by a vision in which God began to chip out of Peter’s heart the prejudices he held against non-Jews and the favoritism he held for his own race. God is still working in our hearts today to shatter favoritism and prejudice.

Tucked into Peter’s meeting with Cornelius is a tidy summary of the gospel that would be easy to overlook. We already heard Peter preach to faithful Jews. We heard him speak before the Sanhedrin. We heard him speak in the Temple. But now, Peter explains the gospel to an outsider…to a Roman Centurion.

Peter assumes Cornelius is aware of most of Jesus’ ministry, saying “You know what has happened…” Even an outsider like Cornelius would have heard of healings, rumors of rebellion, rumblings of riots, and the scandal of Jesus’ execution. More than that, Cornelius knew what it meant for someone to be killed on a cross.

It is important for us to remember that nearly everything that happened to Jesus happened in public. His teaching, miracles, fame, conflict with authorities, and death would all have been public knowledge and, in many cases, public record. What Cornelius needed, and what our unbelieving friends need today, is to hear the testimony that Jesus’ death wasn’t the end. All the evidence Cornelius needed was standing in his home, telling him that Jesus was alive.

Cornelius and Peter found the truth and freedom from sin by seeking God through prayer. Their prayers were invaded by the Holy Spirit. When has the Holy Spirit invaded your prayers to confront you? To call you to reach out? To tell you “there’s more.”

The key to evangelism is not better strategies. It’s prayer. The key to sanctification is not working harder. It’s prayer. If we are purposeful and consistent in prayer, when we knock, doors for the gospel will be opened.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Cry of the Church
Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again!
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Reading
Leviticus 14 (Listen 8:11) 
Acts 10 (Listen 5:49)

Read more about A Mutual Conversion
The conversion of Cornelius and company…God’s impartial love for all humanity impacted Peter…it also compels us as well.

Read more about Putting To Death Racial Hostility
The wellspring of the concept of racial equality is the cross of Christ.

Scripture Focus: Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

Reflection: A Mutual Conversion
By Jon Polk

Cornelius was a big deal in Caesarea. A Roman centurion stationed in the city as a member of the Italian Regiment, Cornelius and his entire family were “God-fearing” Gentiles, regularly praying to the God of the Jews. He was also known for his generosity to the poor and needy.

None of this, however, is why Cornelius is recorded in the history of the early church. Instead, he is remembered for a vision and a summons.

During the middle of the day, Cornelius was visited by an angel, who instructed him to send for Peter. Marshalling his resources, he sent two servants and a trusted soldier on the mission to persuade Peter to come visit.

Meanwhile, Peter was experiencing his own vision in which he was instructed by God to eat unclean animals. While Peter wrestled with the meaning of his vision, Cornelius’ entourage arrived and convinced him to accompany them to Caesarea.

Impressed by Cornelius’ faith, Peter began preaching to the crowd gathered in the house, opening with the words, “I realize now that God does not show favoritism, but accepts anyone who fears him.” He then recounted for those assembled the gospel story of Jesus Christ.

Peter’s opening statement indicates a change in his own understanding. As a good Jew it was unlawful for him to even associate with Gentiles. It was incomprehensible to him that uncircumcised Gentiles could become disciples of Jesus, but that’s exactly what happened. We witness a mutual conversion, both of Cornelius the Gentile and of Peter the Jew.

Scholar Beverly Gaventa writes, “The end of [verse 36, chapter 10] may be the most important line in the drama: ‘He is Lord of all’ means not only that there is no other Lord but that no one can be excluded from his Lordship.”

Through the conversion of Cornelius and company, the news of God’s impartial love for all humanity impacted Peter, but it also compels us as well. Because God shows impartial love to all kinds of people, we have a responsibility to show the same kind of love to all people. As God seeks out relationships with all people, we too are called to open ourselves to relationships outside our own social and cultural spheres.

It took the power of the Holy Spirit to bridge a relationship between Peter and Cornelius. That same Spirit empowers us in our calling to love others.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me out of all my terror. — Psalm 34.4

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Ezra 10 (Listen -3:19) 
Acts 10 (Listen -6:05)

This Weekend’s Readings
Nehemiah 1 (Listen -2:06), Acts 11 (Listen -3:52)
Nehemiah 2 (Listen -3:42), Acts 12 (Listen -3:49)

Read more about Putting To Death Racial Hostility
Christians must take the lead in racial issues…We cannot tire of addressing the issue. We have the only answer.

Read more about Racism Wears a Mask
It is rare that a person will admit, even to themselves, that they act out of racism directly. Racism always wears a mask.