Thursday 30 April 2026

Psalm 37:12-29

Background
How wide is God’s grace?

After a recent church meeting, we were discussing the infamous photograph of King Charles' brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaving one of our local police stations in Norfolk, after being questioned about the Geoffrey Epstein affair. We reflected that as Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is now living on his brother’s Sandringham estate (within our diocese) he could walk into any of our churches. How would we react?

It was a rather uncomfortable question. Of course, the victims of the abuse would have to be our priority but, as the Church, we would also need to welcome Andrew if he came wanting to repent before God, since as Paul says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

It was a rather unpalatable thought. It was much easier to hope that such a circumstance would never happen. We like to think we can carry on believing that God thinks as we do, and that those ostracised by society are better off out of sight and out of mind.

Today’s passage reveals just how many social, religious and cultural barriers the Holy Spirit is prepared to break down to draw all people into a relationship with Jesus.

Earlier in this chapter of Acts, God has given Peter a stomach-churning vision in which he is asked to eat a whole variety of animals, reptiles and birds that a good Jew wouldn’t ever dream of eating. He is then invited to preach at Cornelius’ home, a Gentile centurion. The Holy Spirit, however, interrupts the sermon and falls powerfully on the Gentiles.

All doubt is now firmly dispelled – the promise of salvation is for Jew and Gentile alike. Peter quickly catches up with the Spirit’s movements and almost gushes "Can anyone withhold the water for baptising these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" (v. 47)

We might wish to restrict the Holy Spirit’s movements to those people and places that we think are suitable, but Acts reveals to us a God who knows no bounds, a Spirit who goes where it likes and a grace that extends to all people in all places.

To Ponder:

• Has God ever asked you to do something out of your comfort zone? What happened?
• At Cornelius’ house the Holy Spirit subverts the usual order of events in many churches: baptism, belief, confirmation and receiving of the Holy Spirit. So does it matter in which order these things occur?
• What would you do if Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor turned up at your church?

Bible notes author: Sue Moore
Sue Moore is a visiting Anglican preacher on the Methodist circuit in West Norfolk. She is candidating for the role of Distinctive Deacon and together with her husband runs a bereavement support group. They have two greyhounds who keep them fit with plenty of walking.