Love and Witness(Easter A6)

Paul is so intense in this picture from Preaching Helps. He looks angry. Paul has a reputation as a pretty intense evangelist who will step on toes and feelings. I don't like to think of him that way. I wouldn't like him. I don't get along well with evangelist type colleagues, I am more concerned with the mystical, spiritual formation, and nurturing side of ministry. Not so much the in your face scowl on the surprisingly well-dressed Paul above.

I read Paul as a mystic and a lover of people with a purity of doctrine and a defender of the sheep. Here he takes a route the purist zealot would not. He acknowledges truth behind their religious desire. He introduces the unknown God they have been worshiping.

All this comes back to Jesus' greatest commandment, "Love one another."

Like Peter says, Paul gives a defense for the hope he haves with reverence and love.

The . Psalm talks about being tried and tested. Peter says "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ... It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

If we must suffer at the hands of men, let it be because we love