Leading up to the Special Council on Human Sexuality in April, the Reformed Church in America has published a series of 21 devotionals to help the denomination and participants prepare. We encourage all Room for All supporters to sign up to receive these devotionals via email and follow along as we pray for the church and particularly those LGBTQ people who are participating.
In addition, Room for All has commissioned a series of 21 Inclusive Prayers and Devotionals written by supporters and friends of Room for All to coincide with and complement the RCA’s series. We will publish those here on OUTsights over the next 21 days.
These readings and prayers are solely the words and opinions of each guest writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Room for All, their staff, or the board.
Day 16
A Midrash / Prayer Reflection on Acts 9:1-6, (7-20) from Rev. Miriam Bush
A first person reading –
I was THE designated religious prosecutor, investigating and seeking out all those who were coming to believe and act in ways contrary to Torah, the LAW of Moses, the Book of Church Order. My passion was to preserve the purity within the community of God, and if preserving meant cutting out or destroying those who were contrary to this purity code, then so be it. It was God’s holy calling on my life.
But I was blinded. I saw but did not see, or refused to see. It was not until I was blinded by the Light that I was able to see clearly. Yes, I was on the road to Damascus from Jerusalem, I was on the road to prosecution and death for those non-compliant so-called Jesus followers. Then the Light came, penetrating mind and heart and striking me blind, confused, and immobile; and I heard a Voice – and I became the prosecuted one, accused of being in the wrong. And the Voice was the Lord’s. And the Voice claimed to be Jesus.
My world turned upside down. Down on my knees I heard the Voice call my name. I saw the Light and was blinded. But after several days of my blindness I came to see the Light in a new way. How frightened Brother Ananias must have been to come to sit and pray with me; one of those I was on my way to arrest. How could I have been so blind? I am thanking God for the blinding light that helped me to see that God’s inclusive law of love takes precedence to all else. Seeing this has made all the difference.
Prayer for those attending the Special Council: May the courageous spirit of Ananias be with those who meet with differing views of faith-fullness. We pray for new light to pierce minds and hearts with the voice of Jesus inviting transformation. Amen