“But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; ² with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!” ⁵ Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. ⁶ The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

⁷ After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” ⁹ Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” ¹⁰ Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.” Acts 5:1-11

When we read the story of Ananias and Sapphira, it makes us uncomfortable – or at least it should make us uncomfortable. Well, I have a few thoughts. First, this passage reminds us of the pitfalls of wealth – how money can get a hold on us so much that it separates us from a relationship with G-d. We hear the teaching from 1 Timothy 6:10 that it is the “love of money that is the root of all evil.” When Moses is delayed from coming down the mountain, and the people want Aaron to make a god for them, he tells them to give him their gold so he can forge the “Golden Calf”. Money and the insatiable urge to collect possessions   is a long–standing barrier between G-d and us.

Texts like this challenge us – as we seek relationships with friends or spouses and a relationship with G-d.  But, is there any grace in this text? It seems that Sapphira has an opportunity to be honest and to come clean – but would that have changed the outcome of the story? Sometimes we must live with a text and the difficult message that it speaks, knowing of course that each day, each minute, each second that we live gives us another opportunity to experience G-d’s grace and forgiveness as we live in relationship with G-d – a relationship of repentance and forgiveness.

Pastor Dave

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. ⁵ Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

⁶ You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. ⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. ⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. ⁹ Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right^[b] spirit within me. ¹¹ Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.” Psalm 51:1-11

“Create in me a clean heart, O G-d, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free spirit.”  Psalm 51 is one of the penitential psalms. Psalm 51 is often called the “Miserere” which is the opening word of the psalm in the Latin translation. It is a personal awareness and reminder of our collective wrongdoing and penitence. Verse 17, which reads “The sacrifice acceptable to G-d is a broken spirit” is a wonderful acknowledgment of human sinfulness which is why it is appointed for Ash Wednesday.  We are reminded that G-d does not ask a whole lot that is out of our reach, or responsibility – G-d simply wants each one of us to look into our hearts, and realize how broken we all are – and how much we all need G-d’s love, mercy and Grace.

Pastor Dave