When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup

When we eat this bread and drink this cup

[Newsletter article for April 2026]

Dear brothers and sisters!

We begin this month with the Paschal Triduum. An observance of the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday through Easter Vigil to the Resurrection Day. All three of these dates and events are intertwine with each other and can not be separated by a simple dissection. We could not celebrate Easter unless Jesus came through the pangs of death on the Cross. At the same time, He wouldn't be on the Cross if Judas stayed in the Upper Room when the Savior instituted the Lord's Supper. The history is a clothing of the world events made without seams...

NEWSLETTER: FINAL PUSH

FINAL PUSH

Dear brothers and sisters!

There are two factors that shape my newsletter article this month. On the one hand, we are at the beginning of April. At the same time, the celebration of the Resurrection of our LORD. Therefore, when we enter the time of April there are almost three more weeks ahead of us arriving at the time of Easter. So, our weeks can be compared to the final minute of any sport game regulated by time. First one that comes to my mind is Ice Hockey (I am sure you are shocked 😊). At the same time, it can be Super Bowl (or any football games), or a basketball tournament…  There is this moment when the win is very close, but there is need for the final push. Keep the defense line, keep pressing hard at the offense, not making fouls which might result in penalties in loosing people to the bench, or loosing points… So, final push.

First of all, we are in the process of ending Lent. This year we began our very special Evening services – services of Light. As the daylight time grows longer, we are blessed with a visual of keeping the sanctuary in a twilight while we sing “stay with us, LORD, for it is evening.” He, being the guiding light of our lives, leads us through the challenges which help Zion to mature.       

Then we will arrive at Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday. Many of you know how beautiful Zion looks during this Sunday- everyone is invited back to the Garden where God walks among us and talks to us in His Word. This “date” with God will be followed by Maundy Thursday – the celebration of the Lord’s Supper institution, when Christ is not only talking to us but also feeds us with Himself.    

Maundy Thursday opens the way to the victory of the Cross and Resurrection. There is a reason for St. Paul to exclaim: “we preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23) – Good Friday remembrance of Calvary lays the foundation for the Resurrection. These days in a close connection, making the final push of Lent particularly meaningful. It is not to us, but to Him be the glory (Psalm 115:1) – for we are nothing but the receivers of the benefits of His victory over death, sin, and the devil. Final push – let us get ready!  

Ananias and Sapphira

Ananias and Sapphira  

The Passage: Acts 5:1-11

Structure: (almost) straight parallelism

a. 5:1-2, Lie of Ananias

  b. 5:3-4, Words of St. Peter

    c. 5:5a, fell down and breathed his last

      d. 5:5b, great fear came upon

        e. 5:6 burial of the husband 

a’. 5:7-8, Lie of Sapphira – dialogue with the apostle

  b’. 5:9, Words of St. Peter

    c’. 5:10a, fell down and breathed her last

        e’. 5:10b, wife’s burial

      d’. 5:11, great fear came upon the church    

 

Historical and geographical context:

In a sense this passage is an addition or an appendix to the previous “story”. As we saw, by the end of ch. 4 the church experienced great unity on confessional, liturgical, and sociological levels. But, after that achievement there always comes a challenge. We can call it “Garden paradigm”. Gen. 1 and 2 end on a high note. Then we have a challenge in 2:25-3:7, complete failure… Similar models are revealed in other parts of the Bible (Vineyard after the flood and a challenge of Noah’s authority by Ham; finalized kingdom of David and a challenge of Bathsheba; etc.) 

Theology:

God created Adam and his wife to be in unity – two be one flesh (Gen. 2:23). So, can unity in a marriage be bad? Apparently, yes. The word “helper” in Gen. 2:18 is neutral, but the context of pre-fallen Garden forces us to take it as a helper in good things or actions. Here, though, Sapphira “helps” her husband to fall short (Rom. 3:23), in stead of being the one who can help him to stay on the paths of righteousness.   

Freedom of a believer to share an additional donation with the church. The speech of St. Peter sets the proper boundaries for financial involvement of the believers. On one hand, there is a biblical principle of tithing (Lev. 27:30, Matt. 22:21). That’s why the apostles welcomed everything that was brought to their feet. On the other hand, St. Peter clearly teaches that it was a free-will offering to sell the property, and to keep the proceeds in full or in part for themselves (5:3). The real problem – they wanted to be known as great donors who sacrifice all their land yet pocket a part of the money. Doing this, they tried to rob the Lord, not humans. And the Lord took care of it/them.    

Immediacy of God’s action. The word “immediate” is a prominent feature of Mark’s Gospel (cp. 1:18, 20, 21, 23, 29…). Here we have this word used once – only in the second part relating to Sapphira. In the context of the initial growth of the church it was important that the apostles established the boundaries of the godly behavior. At the same time, we do not always see the similar speed of realization of cause-effect model. Same St. Peter says in his 2nd epistle: And count the patience of our Lord as salvation (3:15). So, the “speed” of God’s response cannot be used as an indication of goodness of the actions.       

Other themes:

“Bad Friday” story.

Whenever you read a biblical passage (not only a biblical one), always ask yourself a question: does it resemble any previous story? Here are two clues:

  three hours (cp. Matt. 27:45)

  Breathing last (cp. John 19:30).

What we see here is Good Friday elements which would lead to negative consequences. In three hours difference Sapphira was illuminated by the words of St. Peter, yet she preferred to stay in the dark. Both the husband and wife breathe their last, yet we do not see or expect a consequent resurrection.