A meditative homily from Act 16: 16-40
A few preliminary introductory words about this book…
The Books of Acts is actually a sequel…to the Gospel of Luke…
The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts are a two volume set written by a Greek Speaking Christian living outside Palestine probably somewhere around 80-95 CE
Secondly the Book of Acts looks like a historical document, but it is not- not in the modern sense of the word-historical. This is a creative text and I say that for two reasons: one, the author himself alludes to the fact that he used oral sources and this is not an eyewitness account. And secondly, it is a creative text because the author puts it together- tells the story and Luke is a good story teller. In telling the story the way he does- he is putting it all together with a purpose in mind- he has an axe to grind…and I do not say that to belittle the book- I do not- just to point out that the author is writing this account not as a chronological historical document but as a story with a theme- an emphasis- a point to make.
Now we come to Acts 16- and here comes a good story- a common genre of a miracle story….but it is much more than that…
The story goes that Paul was going up to pray and they encounter a slave-woman….Now here we have to discuss two items that need to be examined…women and slavery….and in a sense these two are combined here in our story. First let’s examine the place of women in the Roman Empire. The story takes place—-in the city of Philippi…a Roman colony subject to Roman law…
And here they encounter a woman who is a slave…two oppressed classes of people in the Roman system. Let us begin with women….mothers and daughters. Important to remember the Roman culture- the Roman family and government – system of authority was patriarchy…which is an anthropological term meaning …families and societies ruled by fathers. It sets up a hierarchy- a rule of priests-in which the priest-the hieros- is the father- the pater. As an order of living, it elevates some men over other men and all men over women. Within the family, it separates fathers from sons and places both women and children under a father’s authority. The father’s authority was legally called patria potesta– which gave him unlimited power over his children irrespective of whether or not they were married to not…and of their children as well…giving him the right to beat them, imprison them, sell them and even in extremis- to kill them …A woman in this Roman society was subject to her husband. If found unchaste- she could be killed. She had no rights to divorce and if her husband divorced she was an outcast.
Well this woman was not only oppressed as a woman but she also was a slave…Roman slavery was very much different than the slavery found in this country prior to the Civil War. American’s slavery was based on race. Roman slavery was not. Most slaves in Rome were prisoners of war. The two other kinds of slaves were children sold by their fathers who were in desperate financial condition and off springs of slaves. The text does not say how she became a slave- just that she was a slave. And really- it really did not matter- no matter what brought you to become a slave- it did not matter- you were a slave!
Luke tells us that this woman had a gift….and the original Greek text – uses two words which indicate several things about this gift. One Greek word is – python…which we have in taken over in English for a large snake…The interesting thing about this python- this symbol of the snake…it was used as a symbol for the Oracle of Delphi….This was a famous temple where a Priestess sat and gave predictions about the future…The snake came about because of the myth that a giant snake guarded the temple and was slain by Apollo. So this word python (snake) is translated by the KJV…- divination…as possessed by a spirit of divination. The second Greek word is the word- soothsaying (KJV uses divining simply means she was able to give some predictions to future events.
And apparently there was lots of money being made- very lucrative business for the owners of this slave diviner…literally- she brought much gain for her masters….
Well, the story goes that Paul and Silas encountered this woman slave…and she apparently followed Paul for many days and would cry out- “these men are servants of the most High God who announce to us the way of salvation…”
And finally, the text I believe kind of inserts a kind of humor and states and Paul being annoyed….no- it is a little stronger “being very annoyed”….I mean can you imagine heading to a prayer meeting and this happening to you- Being very annoyed…Paul turns and through the prayer of authority- the spirit of divination leaves her.
Well, the story shifts gears here- and the attention turns to the owners of this woman slave diviner who has lost her divining power….she in essence has been liberated….but the owners do not see it that way…
The owners have only one focus- money—-their hope of future earnings from this gifted woman has now been taken away…They see it has financial ruin….They see it as Paul and Silas destroying their business, These owners grab Paul Silas and haul them before the authorities
Here I want to talk about what should be evident from this story…
Luke’s focus :
One the transformative power of the Gospel…..Paul has mentioned in his Letter to the Roamsn that the “gospel is the power of God unto salvation” That is unto transformation! The Gospel is the power of God unto transformation and liberation. Not only transforming for an individual but also society…
This is quite evident from the story here- a woman slave who is oppressed by her owners- the owners have only one focus in mind- the idol of money….using this to make a material profit…
Paul is annoyed…Let’s talk about this annoyance…Was Paul annoyed by being interrupted by this woman calling out about who they were-? Maybe- Or was he annoyed by the constant reminder of the mindset of the Roman Culture that used people- slaves to make a profit- who’s God – who’s ultimate concern was mammon! I am betting on the latter. But even if it was the former- sometimes- the Church has to be moved by inconvenience and annoyance to be moved by the Spirit.
And Paul through prayer liberates this woman slave…And at that moment- the Church is being the Church. This is the true mission of the Church- liberating the oppressed and speaking out against injustice. That’s the mission of the Church! And sad to say-the Church for the most part- for the last 1800 years has been quite active not in the mission of liberation but has been in the forefront of keeping women oppressed and enslaved to a patriarchal system. This patriarchal theology has dominated the Church and continues to do so –barring women from ministry and keeping them in the medieval kitchen, so to speak.
Allow me to close this short meditation with a quote from Rosemary Radford Ruether:
“The Church as Liberation Community…Feminist liberation theology starts with the understanding of Church as liberation community as the context for understanding questions of ministry, creed, worship or mission. Without a community committed to liberation from sexism, all questions such as the form of ministry or mission are meaningless. Conversion from sexism means freeing oneself from the ideologies and roles of patriarchy and also struggling to liberate social structures from these patterns. A feminist liberation Church must see itself as engaged in both of these struggles as the center of its identity as Church. Joining the Church means entrance into a community of people who share this commitment and support one another in it.” (from Sexism and God-Talk 1983)
To which I shout- AMEN! (To be continued…)
edkellyjr 