Have you ever imagined the Church of our time going back to the model of the early Christian Community? Would that be seen as progressive or conservative approach, considering the nature and structure of the early Christian community? It was a basic Christian community; a close family of believers. They were faced with the difficulties of humble beginnings; they lived each day at a time. There was little or no ambition into the far future; they believed Jesus was returning soon – no time to waste with worldly preoccupation. Yet, they couldn’t escape from human challenges, including persecution. One of these challenges was the reality of opening up to new members. Shall we take them or not? Should we open our doors or shut them out? Are the pagans capable of conversion? Hasn’t God made his choice once and for all to select a particular people and tribe? Is the Good News and call to repentance we preach to them not enough? Do they have to be part of us – the elect?
It is against this background we can understand Peter’s address to Cornelius and the anonymous audience of this passage in Acts of the Apostles: “The truth I have now come to realise is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him”.
One thing about Peter is his constant confessions. He confesses both his Faith and his Frailty. Every now and again he lets his audience see through his humanity and ordinariness. In this passage he confesses the ‘truth’ which he has ‘now come to know.’ By this he acknowledges and confesses his past ignorance of the truth. He uses the first person singular pronounce “I” and not “we”. In doing so he distances the whole community of believers from his own personal ignorance. (Through my fault, through my fault, through my own most grievous fault!)
What is this great revelation to Peter which he could not keep in secret? ‘God does not have any favourites’. It does not matter what your personal story or background is; rather, the fear of the Lord (Faith in God) is the beginning of the wisdom of right judgement and actions, which is acceptable to God.
Peter had not gone as far as he would have loved to present his most likely long speech and theological discourse when the Holy Spirit interrupted Peter’s words with His actions; pouring down on all the listeners without discrimination of any kind.
Where we have limited words to express the mystery of our faith, the Holy Spirit supplies with actions beyond comprehension. The actions of the Holy Spirit is always ready to bear witness to God’s love. Love is the judge of every word and action that proceeds from us. This is not necessarily our love for God but His love for us. “You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last…” We can only bear fruit of love as individuals and as a community of believers when we are truly open to the actions of the Holy Spirit.
