Acts 24
“It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.”
Doug was in the second grade, and he loved math. He was good at it, too, so it was quite a shock when he came home one afternoon with tears in his eyes. He stuck a paper in my face with a less than perfect score and explained that he had been marked down for a problem that he knew was “right” but the teacher had said was “wrong.” “See Mom?” I did see. It was the picture of a clock with the small hand pointing at the two, the long hand pointing to the ten. On his worksheet, Doug had said the time was 1:50. When he had talked with the teacher, she had said the correct time was 10:10. When I looked, Doug was right.
The next day I went to see the teacher to express my concern. She kept saying, “I know it appears to be 1:50 but the correct answer is 10:10.” How did she get such an answer? Her response was, “The answer book says 10:10 and books don’t make mistakes.” Needless to say, I was not going to get anywhere, so I thanked her for her time and visited the principal who said he would take care of it. At home with Doug I explained that though he was right, he would have to live with the grade the teacher gave him. And he did, though reluctantly.
It is a good lesson to learn. We don’t always win, even if we are right. Life is not fair all the time. What does count is the way we handle the unfairness, the difficulties, and the attitudes we develop when we face that which makes no sense to us at all!
The story of Paul as recorded in Acts 24 illustrates this point. As he stands before the Governor Felix, an attorney named Tertullus, and “the Jews,” Paul is asked to speak. At the end of his speech, Paul says, as recorded in verse 23, “It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.” As a result, Paul remained in custody. This went on for two long years and then some.
For Paul, what he knew was right was seen as wrong. Yet, despite the hearings and confinement and accusations, Paul still left an impression on many who encountered him. Today we read the writings of Paul and find them inspirational and even life changing.
Prayer: God of Right, give me patience and understanding. Help me stand firm when I speak boldly for you. Amen.
Song: “Will You Come and Follow Me: The Summons” by John L. Bell, b. 1949 found in ELW 798