Can't Buy Me Love - June 30
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:145-176; PM Psalm 128, 129, 130; 1 Samuel 12:1-6,16-25; Acts 8:14-25; Luke 23:1-12
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.‘ But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! Acts 8:17-20
Yesterday was the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, and so I was thinking about the impact these two big hitters of the apostles have been upon the life of the church – as they helped shape what a people following Jesus – called Christians – do through action and belief. The scripture from Acts 8 today draws me moreso toward Peter – and particularly his role as a leader through right and wrong, highlighted by the interaction with Simon Magus.
We meet Simon in Tuesday’s reading from Acts – “Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great.’ And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.” (8:9-11) Simon wooed and amazed the crowds with sorcery, passing off his powers as divine. Yet, when the apostle Philip came to Samaria (a region in Palestine) proclaiming the word of God and doing acts of faith and healing, Simon Magus was intrigued. Men and women alike were being baptized. Simon found his own faith piqued and sought baptism, too. He became a follower of Philip, astounded by the miraculous power he demonstrated.
So, we have this guy who has made his living doing tricks and leveraging people’s interest, allowing them to deify him: “This man is the power of God…”. Then we see a conversion event in which he is baptized. In Greek the word for amendment of life is metanoia. Perhaps you can think of someone who has turned their life around from a path of hopeless darkness to a space of joy and potential. Those are stories of inspiration, reminding us that change can happen and redemption is possible. That is not what is going on with Simon the Sorcerer, sadly.
The apostles’ continued demonstrating the power of God, for God’s glory and not their own. John and Peter also came prayerfully to Samaria, hearing that they had received the Good News of God in Jesus. They laid hands upon the heads of these newly faithful and the Holy Spirit flowed upon them. Simon Magus wanted a piece of that attention and prestige, so he offered a portion of his riches in exchange – to have the power that the apostles had. The apostle Peter – upon whom God said the Church would be founded – put his foot down. God’s spiritual gifts could not be bargained for with earthly possessions. Simon Magus’ heart was not in the right place, as he was posturing for personal gain, not the glory of God.
It is from Simon Magus’ example that the term simony is derived. 13th century theologian Thomas Aquinas wrote about simony in his work Summa Theologica, defining it as “a deliberate design of selling or buying something spiritual or annexed to the spiritual”. The term is also used to point to gaining a role in the church through the exchange of money. This was a heated issue in the not-to-distant history of Thomas’ time, for late in the 11th century, the Investiture Controversy arose due to a battle of control between Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV and newly elected Pope Gregory VII over who would appoint bishops. Bottom line among the drama: money would not influence God’s will.
Friends, God cannot be controlled by human whims. Simon Magus missed that in his penchant for influence. As we think about the witness of Jesus and the movement of the Holy Spirit in God’s church, we are called to joy and wonder before our God. It is that exuberance and swirling that inspires and draws others near. It is by offering our hearts to God that we are invited in – and God then moves us in beautiful ways.
-- Katherine+
Questions for Reflection
Can you think of a conversion event in your own life? What or who brought about the change? Who knew about it then? Was the change one that continues still today?
What does the story of Simon Magus leave you wondering?
Daily Challenge
Want to learn more about the complicated character we call Simon Magus? Set aside ten minutes to check out this fascinating entry on Simon the Sorcerer in an online version of the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia.