David Bahn – Reflections

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Acts 3:1-10

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ² And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. ³ Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. ⁴ And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” ⁵ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

I love the C.S. Lewis quote:

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses

I recall Jesus asks the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the answer is simple: “Lord, I want to see” (Mark 10:21). Nothing wrong with that. Seeing is a good thing. And it was a big request. It was beyond asking for a hand out, a few alms, or strength to carry this burden.

But sometimes we’re so used to the burdens we don’t want to shed ourselves of them. We think we must carry on, even to the point of self-inflicted drudgery, if not downright martyristic complaint. I guess that’s just my lot in life, we sigh. We have no idea of what is meant by a holiday at the sea. Or a true healing. Or deep relief. We cannot imagine.

Sometimes it’s a matter of fear. We don’t know how to handle a better life. We can’t see ourselves in a successful career. We worry about too much gain, because it might all be taken away from us. Hope is a dangerous thing. It puts you in a position to be disappointed. It sets you up for being let down. But Jesus isn’t a bait and switch con man. He’s not setting us up for a cruel joke. He offers true life–eternal life. His gifts are irrevocable; his calling sure (Romans 11:29).

Interminable waiting wears on us. We wonder whether God will ever bring relief. We may conclude that this is our lot. It surely is not our lot for eternity. But God sometimes chooses to lift us out of the mud puddle, raise our eyes to see something better, fuller and everlasting. In the land of the living. When he does, give thanks. Praise his name. Sing of his goodness and mercy. Thank him.