David Bahn – Reflections

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Acts 9:32-43

Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. ³³ There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. ³⁴ And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. ³⁵ And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶ Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. ³⁷ In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” ³⁹ So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. ⁴⁰ But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴² And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. ⁴³ And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

You have to have a cooling bath to get the sauce cooled quickly. That’s so it doesn’t give someone food poisoning. This was the warning of a restaurant manager when Diane and I were making “PB’s Famous Spaghetti Sauce.” PB stood for Pastor Bahn, and the sauce was for a spaghetti dinner at the church I was serving. It’s fame was only in the name. And it was “PB’s” only because I found the recipe and was cooking it up – with the help of my dear wife and our pesky restaurant managing watchdog! Nevertheless, we cooked the sauce and he brought commercial cooling trays and thermometer, and no one got food poisoning! That would have been an altogether different kind of fame!

Tabitha, however, had a fame to which we would all aspire. She was noted for her good works and acts of charity. She was apparently a seamstress, and her companions there in Joppa were deeply moved by her kindness and sad about her death. They recalled her work by means of showing the garments she had made.

It reminds me of the Sundays we have had in our church where 50 to 75 quilts have been laid on the communion rail, gifts of charity from the Dorcas Guild. Their name is taken from this woman, Tabitha, “whose name means Dorcas.” The name means deer, a graceful and meek animal. Perhaps it was descriptive of her personality. She may have been unassuming and graceful.

But since little attention other than the translation for Greek readers is offered, the most important quality of character was her generosity and kind helpfulness. Good works and charity are the marks of a woman or man of faith. They flow from Jesus’ love for us and offer us the opportunity to reflect that love to others. We honor him by such kindnesses.

People can be famous for spaghetti sauce, space exploration, athletic prowess, financial success, beauty, or any number of things. We are called to a different kind of fame – a fame of love and good works. To be famous for such things requires a spirit of humility. Rather than doing good works to be seen by others, we are commanded to do them in a way that God receives the glory.

I’m reminded of the women of the Dorcas Guild whenever I walk into our front bedroom where a beautiful quilt made by the Dorcas Guild women covers the bed there – a retirement gift from these gracious women. But I also think of the quilts (less elaborate but oh so useful) that they donate to police officers, fire fighters and Lutheran World Relief each year.

The benefit of that becomes so very clear to me as I recall a day 37 years ago when our youngest son was hit by a car. He completely recovered. But as he lay on the street and we waited for the ambulance to arrive, a thoughtful police officer took off his jacket and placed the fir collar of the jacket between the rough surface of the street and Stephen’s face. A quilt would offer the same kind of comfort. I wonder how many more people have benefitted from such good works and charity.