October 21

Acts 9: 31-43
31 Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. 32 Now as Peter went here and there among all the believers, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!" And immediately he got up. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. 36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." 39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.
Peter is confronted with the same issues that faced Jesus. Luke tells how Jesus early ministry was among those who were paralyzed and with those mourning a loved one’s death. The church is confronted with the same issues. There are striking similarities between Jesus’ actions and Peter’s.

After the conversion of Saul, we might expect that the story of the church would continue to deal with the major public events that shaped Saul, soon to be Paul, and the church. In the middle of this major movement the daily events of the church appear. The gospel is being proclaimed and a faithful disciple, Dorcas dies. The church is always about seeing how to proclaim the gospel to those who have not heard. The church is always addressing the problems of life and death on a very personal basis.

We do not have people being raised to life at their funeral service. Yet, in a very real way we are announcing the resurrection promise in the face of death at every funeral. Faithful disciples are doing good works and acts of charity are dying and being mourned in virtually every congregation of God’s people. We would like Peter to show up and bring them back to us. But that event is limited to this occasion. And yet we still proclaim the resurrection in the face of every death. The story of Dorcas is still with us.

Reflection questions:
1. Who has been the Dorcas in your congregation?
2. The early church is repeating the works of Jesus, what does this challenge us to do or think?
3. How is the church healing the sick and serving the dead?