Cornelius

Acts 10:25-48; Psalm 98 The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17

Today we encounter the story of Cornelius the centurion.  It is a pretty neat story with many things happening.  

Cornelius was a Roman centurion who was a pagan.  Yet, the Acts of the Apostles describe him as "a religious and God-fearing man, along with his whole household.  He was in the habit of giving generously  to the people and praying constantly."  

What a description!

Here is a man that was held  in high esteem yet in all his good attributes: religious, God-fearing, generous, praying, he was still lacking something.  He was missing an essential ingredient so that he might be fulfilled and complete.  He was good but not good enough.

This is why God sends a message to him to tell him to send for Peter. 

What was he missing?

The answer is simple and straight forward. 

He was missing Jesus.  

His faith as strong as it was, was lacking direction, was lacking true power and force.  He needed his faith to go from being anonymous to being personal and real. 

Only then does he truly become who he was made to be; only then does his attributes become holy and life giving. 

In the gospel Jesus paints the picture with even strokes.  He points out six things that he wants to give to his disciples to enrich their life, to give them direction, to personalize their faith journey: "If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love...my joy will be in you...you are my friends...I have told you everything I have heard from my Father...ask in my name." 

We are introduced to the "my" of Jesus so that our life can be fulfilled.

The guess work has ended; the anonymity of faith gives way to positive direction.  The anonymity of joy and love now have direction and a pattern to follow.  Friendship becomes heavenly and truly intimate.  God now becomes personal and real.  We are given the name by which our prayer becomes forceful and powerful.  

This is what Cornelius was missing.  This is what brings fulfillment.  Cornelius doesn't have to settle for anonymity he now knows personally.  Faith is now personal, not because it comes from the believer, but because it finds a resting place in the person of Jesus, in his "my" our faith has strength to carry us to through life into eternal joy touched with glory.

This is the gift for all of us.  May we spread so others may experience that power as well and no long reside in anonymity but now be personalized, real, and true.