Reflection - Extra Ordinary

By Steve Hall

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052122.cfm
Acts 16:1-10
John 15:18-21

Maybe it’s just me, but I find it difficult to remember that these early Christians, particularly the Apostles and other named disciples, were just ordinary men. Like other well-remembered men from history — scientists, philosophers, composers, authors, rulers, etc. — it’s easy to assume that they were extraordinary. Extraordinary with all caps: EXTRA-ORDINARY! 

Certainly their genetic talents came into play; but so too did their culture, their family interactions, their life challenges, their personal value structures and philosophies. They were men and women who were at the right place at the right time with the right genetic make-up that allowed them to become the men and women that they did. Now, lest you think that I attribute all of this to chance, let me properly attribute all these successes to their part in the divine plan.

Now my point here is that Paul, Timothy, Barnabas and Stephen, along with James, John, Peter and the other Apostles were not, of themselves, unique among men of their time. If they were living today we would most likely find them to be kindred spirits but with a stronger and more open holiness and spirituality. Similarly, if we were living in their time we would probably find their demeanor similar to that of others except for a stronger and more open holiness and spirituality.

What I’m struggling to say here is that whatever they were, we could be.

Let’s leave that for a moment.

Generally, St Luke, a companion of Paul and the human author of the gospel attributed to him, is also credited with writing the Acts of the Apostles. There are signs in today’s reading from Acts that Luke also accompanied Paul on at least a portion of his travels. However, we would be hard-pressed to describe St Luke as a great travel writer. Nowhere in the twenty-eight chapters of Acts does Luke mention, even in passing, even one of the many tourist attractions, landmarks, five-star restaurants or natural wonders that grace this part of the world. Temples, amphitheaters, aqueducts or public buildings — not one gets the slightest mention in the writings of Luke. I’m sure this is one, if only a minor one of the reasons that Jesus would remind his disciples that “If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.” 

Luke saw the world from a different perspective; and for that reason the important and the unimportant have made a major shift, essentially trading places. Consequently, what our inexperienced travel guide actually does point out is easy to slide over or even ignore as it doesn’t have the same import for us. Yet, it may well be the most revealing aspect of this portion of their journey. At the same time Luke himself seems to be totally at easy in making the statement. This is simply a part of life.

“They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory
because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit
from preaching the message in the province of Asia.
When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia,
but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.”

We can reflect on this phenomenon and conclude that these were extra ordinary men, on fire with the Spirit, specially chosen to do great things. All that is true except for the extra ordinary part. These men were ordinary. Sure, they were in the right place at the right time with the right set of personal characteristics to become disciples of the Christ; but the choice was always theirs. On the whole, nothing indicates that, prior to associating with Jesus, they were particularly holy, especially attuned to the practices of their faith, or distinctive by their family spirituality. 

The image of the children of Fatima comes to mind. Supposedly their immature faith was expressed by saying the rosary in their own special way: they would stand on the hill and together holler: ‘Hail Mary’, then wait for the echo and then do it again through all five decades. This would change for them as it had for those early followers of the Way. One thing distinguishes the children and those early Christians. They were open, even expectant of the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit. That may make them unique or uncommon; it does not make them extra ordinary.