June 29th - Reflection

Peter and Paul, Apostles
Acts 12:1-11 (NRSV)

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.
The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, "Fasten your belt and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel's help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

Reflection
We tend to not see the miracles that happen around us. Sometimes we even tend to deny the existence of miracles. But, daily miracles such as the above happen to each of God's Children. We tend to not see the miracle, but when we do see the miracle, we can't help but to think back about that angel and rejoice that the Lord has sent an angel to rescue us from the hands of sin, death, and the devil.

As sinners we are bound, chained, guarded and in prison to our selfishness. We are all tied up and guarded by the devil and trapped in our own sinfulness. Just like Peter we are stuck! And then we begin to relive our baptism. We relive our daily baptism and are freed from the chain of sin to walk free in our life and calling of God. Free because of the cleansing water and refreshing grace of Jesus life, death, and resurrection from the dead. All this freely given daily to us, so that we can start anew. Free from the confines of our prison of sin. So come to yourself this day and proclaim the glory of the Lord, for surely the Lord has sent his angel and rescued you and me from the hands of death.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I arise this day I see your blessing and am awed by your grace and your miracle of life. Be with me as I live out the calling you have for me this day. --- Amen