29th Day of Easter, Sunday May 10: Acts 16:16-40

On the way to that place of prayer again, they bump into another woman – a slave whose divining spirit, related to the Delphic oracle, made lots of money for her owners. Like other possessed people in the gospels, she recognizes and names the believers – who exorcise the spirit and blow the money-making spiritual business of her owners – who then get Paul and Silas lynched and jailed.

This time the jailbreak comes with an earthquake that really breaks the doors and locks and chains. Paul & Silas, who have been worshipping despite the chains, don’t leave despite the loss of external constraints. The jailer is about to kill himself for failing his job, and is amazed to find the prisoners on his side. He joins this movement that praises when imprisoned and doesn’t flee when freed. Would we meet such a test of praise in prison, or of self-control without bonds?

When the magistrates send word in the morning to release the prisoners, Paul refuses to slip away quietly. He has been lynched, and wants justice as a Roman citizen. He gets an apology, like any number of human rights protesters in our time – and returns to Lydia’s home to encourage the community before moving on in their journey – on a mission, not running away. Are you, and are we, moving toward something, on some mission – or just running scared?