Contaminated, Discouraged, Diminished

200 words: Let's shake the dust off our feet, go where the doors are open and take a whole lot of people with us.

St. Paul, recognised as the world’s greatest – and perhaps primordial – evangelist, did not have it all his own way:

Three times Paul is rejected by his own people, the Jews, and forced to turn to the gentiles: once here in Asia Minor, once in Greece and finally in Rome (Henry Wansborough, OSB, Universalis).

How did Paul and Barnabas handle Gospel-Rejection?

So, they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit (Acts 13).

Such an important image for us, tempted as we are to want approval and human respect from family and friends:

Shaking off the dust, a Jewish practice when leaving Gentile territory, can be understood as a refusal to be contaminated, discouraged, or diminished in fervor by the rejection they have experienced (George T. Montague, Companion God, 142).

This act of Gospel-Defiance leads to being filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. What an experience this is.

Do we want it?

Billy Graham used to say often:

Forget about the doors that are closed. Walk through the doors that are open and take a truckload of people with you.

Amen.