2004 Synod Assembly: "Called Into God's Marvelous Light"

Live update added 2:15 p.m., Saturday, April 24, 2004

Kathryn Bradley-Love Reflects On Ananias in Second Bible Study

"I don't want to leave Saul blind," explained Rev. Dr. Kathryn Bradley-Love as she began the second part of the Bible study on Acts 9. Clearly the assembly members were caught up in her enthusiasm and greatly appreciated her energy, Biblicism, and passion for evangelism.

Focusing on Ananias, who God called to heal Saul's blindness, Rev. Dr. Bradley-Love again made numerous connections between the text and the lives of the assembly-goers. "We are in the same boat as Ananias," being called by God, she said. "Ananias knew who God was because he was walking with God," and we are encouraged to do likewise, following God.

This can be a challenge for us who are Lutherans, because we, too, question the way we are to go. Dr. Bradley-Love voiced Ananias' question, the one we often echo: "God, is this the direction you are calling us to go? We're not used to going this way." And then she further challenged the assembly participants who often ask God, "Why don't you send the pastor, the council president, any one but me?" God's answer to us, she responded, is "I love variety; I am calling each and every one of you."

"We are called to help open the eyes of the blind," Dr. Bradley-Love asserted. "We are called, claimed, gathered, and sent to call, claim, gather, and make disciples of them. We are called to go just as sure as Ananias and Saul were called to go."

In a fitting conclusion, Dr. Bradley-Love reminded the assembly to be a people of prayer. But, she added, "Let us not in the midst of our prayer forget to turn prayer to action."

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