Vision in the Bible ===================
There was a non Jew, a gentile, and his name was Cornelius. Cornelius lived in Caesaria. He was a Roman officer who belonged to the Italian regiment. Cornelius was a very religious man. He had done acts of charity and his whole family worshiped God. Cornelius helped even the poor Jewish settlers. Cornelius and his whole family constantly prayed to God. One after noon about three, he had a vision. In that vision an angel came to him. The angel called him by his name. An angel who stands in attendance before the mighty God appeared and called him by his name “ Cornelius”. Cornelius stared at the angel in fear and asked the angel “What is it sir”. He asked the angel in military terms addressing the angel “sir”. Cornelius knew that this man in white robe appeared to him is a superior person and he addressed the angel with respect and fear. Then the angel kindly addressed him “Cornelius your prayers are answered”. The Angel said in kind words to ease his fear. After easing his fears the angel praised him specifically about his acts of charity. “God is pleased with your prayers and acts of charity and God is ready to answer you” Acts 10.8. These very verse speaks about an appreciating God. G! od appreciated the works of mercy. I think this incident is a reminder to us to be conscious about the many people who are starving and who go to bed with an empty stomach this very night while we feast at our table. You might ask me what to do. I am not to suggest answers about the possibilities open before your own eyes wherein you could make a big difference in the lives of the poor people in your neighborhood and even in your own family. There could be people who are less privileged and we might be criticizing them for not being industrious like you and me. God, knowing their disability has installed us as charismatic caregivers to them. We might be able to pray for the less privileged people in our families. We might be able to pray for the hungry people. I would say that is a good gesture. God is inviting us to take another bold step to make the lives of the poor people worth living. We could save some money from our sacrifices and fasting. Cornelius send his men to fetch Peter. Cornelius send a few of his men to fetch Peter from Joppa. Peter was to speak to Cornelius. God readied the people of Joppa for a miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As the men from Caesarea arrived looking for Peter in the House of Simon the tanner of Leather who lived by the sea, Peter was sitting on the roof of the house, enjoying the vision and he was hungry for food too. Peter’s Vision in Joppa Peter didn’t hesitate to climb the roof to pray and he sat there at noon time. Being on the roof and as he was in prayer, Peter had a vision. In that vision, God lowered all kinds of animals to a hungry Peter. God declared that the animals shown to him were clean. God commanded him to slaughter and eat them. When peter refused to eat the traditionally unclean animals God took him to task “ do not consider anything unclean what God has declared clean” Acts 10.15. While Peter was pondering over the meaning of the vision, the three men from Cornelius were standing outside his house and were asking for Peter. Peter went with them and Peter in his address, mentioned to the Jewish people in Caesaria, how Jesus anointed with the Holy Spirit preached to the people“ and you know how God poured out on Jesus His Holy Spirit and power” Acts 10.38. Here we have another mention of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Jesus. Another instance of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit While Peter was talking to them he had the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.All the Jewish people who were gathered around Peter were also anointed likewise. It was unheard that the gentiles were given the outpouring of the Holy spirit. They (the gentiles gathered with Cornelius) heard Peter and the Jewish people speak in tongues. Yes, after the incident in Jerusalem, another public occurrence of the people speaking in tongues in groups. Peter ordered them to be baptized. Thus the church is open to the Gentiles. Peter was even questioned for acting differently and against the traditions of the Jewish people. Peter explained to the believers in Jerusalem, how he in his vision heard God asking him to! respect what God has declared clean. Peter related to them, the vision Cornelius had. God said to Cornelius, “Simon Peter will speak words to you by which you and all your family will be saved” Acts 11.14. Peter shared to the group the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles. “When I began to speak , the Holy Spirit came down on them just as on us in the beginning” Acts 11.15 The Jewish people always believed that salvation is entirely and exclusively for the Jews. On the other hand, God’s intent was and is different. God doesn’t discriminate His children. The Jews of that time had little idea about the universal love of God. They even criticized Jesus for going into the house of the tax collector. The Jewish who didn’t believe that salvation was open to the gentiles got to revise their attitudes. Peter asked them. If God has chosen the non believers, “who am I to stop God” Acts 11.17. Peter always had a manner of responding quickly in times of crisis. When he was given strict orders by the High priest, not to preach in the name of Jesus, Peter responded “We must obey God, not men” Acts.8.29 The moment Peter finished his discourse, the Jewish people, stopped criticizing Peter for welcoming the gentiles and allowing them to be baptized. I think and feel happy at this great revelation. The Vision of my God to Peter, changed the level of my own existence. Had this vision never occurred, I don’t know what would have been my faith and my existence. Being from India, I have no idea what I would have been at this time. I could have been a member of a different religion. But I believe that God predestined us in Jesus. We are given the election in Jesus our Lord. I thank my God for this joyful election and the vision given to Peter to open the gates of the Church to everyone. Vision and the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit God has used Vision to communicate through his chosen people, the members of the Church. The same vision is continued in the church today through the Holy men and women. In God’s time all people, regardless of their intellectual arrogance and skepticism will be humbled by God . A, God touched moment, is not far from any intellectually arrogant person. I think I could be a good example of God touching an intelligently arrogant person. I do praise and thank God for this great humbling experience. Through this humbling experience, God brought me down to the earth level. God made me realize that I am an earthling and allowed me to set foot on the ground so that I may not falter and or fall as I walk. God humbles us and holds our hands as we walk. I do praise and thank God for this wonderful experience to hold hands with God occasionally at lea! st, and to walk with Him as a young boy walks with his Dad. I do not claim that I am a visionary. But God touched me and I felt His loving hands gently and yet powerfully guiding and healing me. God Bless you Fr Thomas Mathew/Dec. 11th 2001 California ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. Click Here **************************************************************** This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. 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