Cornelius the Centurion

 

 

Today is the Feast of Cornelius the Centurion.  In point of fact, it is a feast of Cornelius.  The Roman calendar recognizes him on February 2 (already a busy day of observances) and the Orthodox Churches place this feast on September 13.  The Anglican calendar chooses today.  It’s not a bad day to celebrate his life.

Acts 10 tells his story. According to verses 2 and 3, Cornelius was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God.  He resided in Caesarea.  In a vision he received a command to send servants to Joppa to fetch Peter.  While this was going on Peter had a vision while a guest in Joppa.  In this vision, Paul had a three-time revelation about being commanded to eat what he understood to be ritually unclean food.  Each time he protested there was a voice that instructed him that What God has made clean, you must not call profane.  (verse 14)

When he woke Peter received the delegation from Cornelius at God’s command.  The next day he accompanied the servants to Caesarea.  Cornelius explained his own vision and in verse 34 made the now-famous statement I truly understand that God shows no partiality.  He preached to a small crowd and the Holy Spirit came upon them.  Peter baptized them and remained with them several days.

So, Cornelius and his household were among the first Gentile converts (the narrative concerning the Ethiopian Eunuch is in chapter 8).  The events in Caesarea caused a great controversy, as you can imagine.  But in the end, the Gentile believers were accepted by the early church and the door opened for a larger Gentile mission.

Eunuch or Centurion, someone has to be first.  The universal grace of God is sometimes revealed in stages.  The recognition of Cornelius’ profession changed the complexion of the church for ever.

Thanks be to God.

The Nativity of The Lord Jesus Christ

  

It is Christmas!  What a great day.  It can’t really be caught up in one word.  Even though Christmas – the Christ-Mass – is a wondrous expression, the day’s proper title is The Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ.  That label is a virtual confession of faith in itself.  The Announcement that there is “good news of a great joy which shall be to all people,” and the response of the Heavenly Host, the wonder of the shepherds, the amazement of the onlookers and the pondering of Mary only begin to tel the story.

 It is the First Day of Christmas.  The season will extend through January 5.  Then comes The Epiphany of the Lord.  But, just as we didn’t hurry to Christmas, we shall not be impatient about The Manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

 The faith significance of the day cannot be overstated.  Even in the part of our society that is not  particularly religious, there is still a sense of the unique about these days.

There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,' returned the nephew. `Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!

-- Ebenezer Scrooge’s nephew, Fred
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens