Daily Bread

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms.

Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’

And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

But Peter said, ‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’

And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognised him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

I love the unexpectedness of this story. I sometimes think God is the originator of surprise parties, and I recognise how often I am surprised because I expect too little. C.S. Lewis’s comments:

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” (The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses)

Like many a Sunday morning, when I head off to church, I bet Peter and John decided to go to the temple for prayers that day because that was just what they did. They were not expecting a miracle.

Notice how Peter dealt with his own limitations. I wonder how often I look at my empty hands, or my depleted energy, and turn away from the person reaching out in need. Peter had no money but he did have Jesus. He did have faith in Jesus’ power to do, "more than we could ask or imagine."

And that beggar! How long had he sat there, ignored, or even spit upon, or offered charity with strings of privilege attached? Still, as humiliating it was to sit looking at people’s knees, bearing their judgement and worse, he needed to eat. So, day after day, there he sat shaking his cup, expecting no more than a few coins, but God had a surprise for him that day. He asked for enough to survive one more day but he received healing and a whole new life.

There were others who were invited to the surprise party as well — those who were just going about their usual prayers and suddenly saw the power of God break through. They joined in. I expect some were like I so often am. They were so occupied with their own concerns that they didn’t see the miracle and missed the party altogether, and then there were some, frightened by that same power, who reacted with disbelief and judgement.

Where do I find myself when someone asks more of me than I feel I can offer? Or when God throws a surprise party in my life? Mmm…

God of surprises,
Help me to be watching out for your unexpected
working in my life and the world around me.
Let me see so that I may join in the rejoicing.

And when the needs that call to me feel overwhelming,
help me to believe that you will supply that which is really needed,
even when my hands are empty.
Help me to trust in your care and power
and be on the lookout for what you will do
as I stretch out my empty hands,
That are filled to share by your grace.

Through Jesus, who does more than we can ask or imagine, I pray