– Today’s Community Scripture – 6/11/2025

The next day as the three travelers were approaching the town, Peter went out on the balcony to pray. It was about noon. Peter got hungry and started thinking about lunch. While lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the skies open up. Something that looked like a huge blanket lowered by ropes at its four corners settled on the ground. Every kind of animal and reptile and bird you could think of was on it. Then a voice came: “Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.” Peter said, “Oh, no, Lord. I’ve never so much as tasted food that was not kosher.” The voice came a second time: “If God says it’s okay, it’s okay.” This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the skies. As Peter, puzzled, sat there trying to figure out what it all meant, the men sent by Cornelius showed up at Simon’s front door. They called in, asking if there was a Simon, also called Peter, staying there. Peter, lost in thought, didn’t hear them, so the Spirit whispered to him, “Three men are knocking at the door looking for you. Get down there and go with them. Don’t ask any questions. I sent them to get you.” Peter went down and said to the men, “I think I’m the man you’re looking for. What’s up?” They said, “Captain Cornelius, a God-fearing man well-known for his fair play—ask any Jew in this part of the country—was commanded by a holy angel to get you and bring you to his house so he could hear what you had to say.” Peter invited them in and made them feel at home. The next morning he got up and went with them. Some of his friends from Joppa went along.

                                    Acts 10:9–23 (MSG)

– Reflection:

            Peter’s Vision Pt. 2

Much of what has happened up to this point with the disciples was for the Jewish people, as I understand this was the moment when the disciples began to include others in Christianity. Jesus had already initiated this, but it was so uncomfortable for the disciples that GOD Himself had to intervene to ensure this work continued. Peter’s vision challenges deeply held beliefs about purity and inclusion, confronting him with a radical message: what God has made clean must not be called unclean. The imagery of the blanket filled with all kinds of animals symbolizes the dismantling of barriers—between Jew and Gentile, clean and unclean, insider and outsider. Peter’s initial resistance reflects how difficult it can be to let go of tradition and embrace a broader vision of God’s grace. Yet, the Spirit’s gentle guidance and the timely arrival of Cornelius’s men illustrate that God is orchestrating something far greater than Peter could have imagined. This moment invites reflection on our own openness to divine direction, especially when it challenges our assumptions. Are we willing to listen, even when the message is uncomfortable? Are we ready to welcome those we once considered “other”? Peter’s journey reminds us that faith often requires courage, humility, and a willingness to be transformed.

– Where do we go from here?

For all of us to have a seat at God’s table is a true blessing, one that I don’t take for granted. Earlier, in many of the teachings, we were like dogs under the table looking for scraps, but now we are being given a seat at the table. Just as Peter was challenged to rethink his beliefs about purity and community, we too are invited to examine our own assumptions and prejudices. The Spirit’s prompting reminds us that God is always at work, often in unexpected people and places, and our role is to listen, trust, and follow. Moving forward, we are encouraged to open our hearts and homes to those who are different from us, to be willing vessels of grace, and to participate in the unfolding story of reconciliation and unity. The journey may be unfamiliar, but like Peter, we are not alone—God goes before us, preparing the way.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You for the ways You communicate with us through visions, through people, and through the quiet whispers of Your Spirit. Like Peter, we often cling to what we know, yet You call us to something greater: a love that includes, a grace that welcomes, and a mission that extends beyond boundaries. Open our hearts to Your voice, even when it challenges us. Help us trust Your guidance, to walk with courage, and to welcome those You send our way. May we be instruments of Your peace and participants in Your unfolding story of unity and redemption. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.