October 29, 2014

Acts 3:1-10

Jesus healing lame man
Peter healing the lame man (Raphael, Vatican)

1 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 that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of those who entered the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 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 walked 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 for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Pentecost did not mean the disciples left behind the Jewish worship and traditions they had grown up with and had shared with Jesus. Yes, they now met in their homes, recounted the stories and teachings of Jesus and communed of His Body and Blood in the manner He had shown them. But they also continued, as Jesus had done, to “go up to the temple at the hour of prayer.” On this occasion it is the ninth hour, around 3:00 pm

Beggars flocked to the temple because it was understood that prayer and alms go together for genuine piety. Even those who pretended to be pious couldn’t avoid the connection between prayer and alms. Saint James specifically said that faith without works is dead, and rebuked those who substituted warm words for the concrete actions they could be taking as well. Some—including Peter and John—had no silver or gold to give. But they took the time, when asked, to give a blessing, and their blessing in the name of Christ brought a miracle of healing. Most of us won’t have that kind of dramatic experience. But miracles still abound, and you never know what God—it’s always Him—can do through you if you give a blessing, sometimes with your money, sometimes with your time and talent. 
Blessings though can’t be one way, because being only a dispenser of blessings magnifies pride. And so the apostle’s could only give what they had been willing to receive. “I give you what I have.” Unless we are humble enough to receive blessings, we won’t have blessings to give. 

Back from England

Institute Orthodox Studies
The Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies
Abp Williams
Fr John Jillions, Dr Razvan Porumb, Dr Zoe Bennett (supervisor), Abp Rowan Williams

I returned late last night from England after a very full few days since last Friday. The main event was on Monday in Cambridge, when Razvan Porumb, a PhD student from the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (IOCS), successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on Orthodoxy and ecumenism, seeking to find a way to balance Orthodox claims about being the one, true Church with its claims to catholicity (universality, completeness, fullness) and engagement with the world (including most naturally engagement with other Christians.) I joined Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury and now Master of Magdalene College, as the two examiners for what’s known in England as the viva (short for viva voce, literally “with living voice.”) IOCS is part one of the members of the Cambridge Theological Federation which has various degree programs, including a PhD through Anglia Ruskin University based in Cambridge. This year they will be offering MA and PhD degrees by distance learning for the first time.

After the defense I spent the afternoon at the Institute and then had a celebratory supper with Dr Porumb and Institute staff and friends. The night before I enjoyed catching up with old friends Father Raphael (priest of Saint Ephraim’s parish), Carolyn and Nicholas Armour.

While I was at the Institute Theodora Tavener a student at Christ’s College stopped in to borrow a large icon for a Cambridge University production she is directing of an opera about the life of St Mary of Egypt, with music composed by her father, the late Sir John Tavener (1944-2013), and libretto by Mother Thekla (1918-2011.) She picked up the icon and left to do an interview with the BBC about the opera.

The rest of the time I was in London enjoying a few days with family, including 5-month old granddaughter Eloise.