Acts 1:6-14

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  vs. 8

The disciples were hoping for a quick fix after the resurrection. Not having a clue about what lay ahead they were still looking backward and thinking that now might be the time when the fabled Kingdom of Israel might be restored. But the resurrected Jesus let them know that the healing of brokenness would be a process and would happen only through the power of the Holy Spirit and their own personal witness, beginning in Jerusalem and ultimately reaching the ends of the earth.

This story is a reminder of the compelling myth of past glory in shaping our lives. All around the world we’re seeing movements that focus  on restoring the greatness of the past. The irony is that our collective memories are notoriously unreliable. What were the good old days for some were actually times of repression and misery for others. Only a few prospered in those remembered days of glory.

But the Holy Spirit never leads by going backwards. Always the movement is toward a beautiful future of healing and inclusion.  And that’s the direction in which the disciples led the way. They put aside the narrowness of the old ways, and trusted the Spirit to lead them through uncharted waters. Governed only by the law of love they went out with a message of mercy and forgiveness that was for all people.

Thought for the Day: What brokenness remains to be healed?