Cornelius Beef
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day, an angel of God came to him and said, “Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.” – Acts 10:1-5 abridged (NIV)
The story on the page says that Peter was transformed after a vision and his encounter with Cornelius, embracing God’s expansive love. But what about Cornelius after his vision and his encounter with Peter?
I get annoyed when a character is introduced then vaporizes. I want to know more. As written, Cornelius is a mere plot device for Peter’s transformation, an amuse-bouche for Peter’s smorgasbord vision.
Still, I wonder: How did this encounter change Cornelius? Did he give even more generously? Pray even more regularly? Did he resign his military commission? Or consider what it meant to command an imperialist occupying force? Did he treat his soldiers more equitably? Or treat civilians more mercifully and justly? Did he release his household slaves, give up his power and privilege, or maybe use it for good? Or did he carry on largely unchanged?
I want to know how the Holy Spirit continued to be at work in Cornelius—because I also want to know how the Holy Spirit is at work in you and in me.
Exploring the words and worlds beyond the biblical page brings us deeper into the story and enriches our faith. Whether it’s the Jewish midrash tradition, the sacred imagination of Womanist theology, or simply our own inner wondering, we’re invited to co-author stories of inspiration and transformation. Your creative curiosity is holy.
Prayer
Divine Author: Keep me curious about the stories on the page and beyond the page. Amen.
About the AuthorChris Mereschuk (He/Him) is an Unsettled Pastor based in Northampton, MA. He is the Founder of RevCJM, LLC Consulting & Coaching, specializing in vitality, transformation, and Legacy.