Psalm 108:2 (NRSV) Wake up, my spirit; awake, lute and harp; I myself will waken the dawn.
This seems to be “stir up Saturday”—and in August! It reminds me of a collect in Advent, but why wait for December to stir things up? Today’s gospel tells the story of an invalid, crippled for thirty-eight years, lying by the pool at Bethsaida, who always seems to be missing his opportunity to enter the stirred up waters of the miraculous pool where many have been healed. Finally he is healed by Jesus, who definitely stirs things up by performing the act on the sabbath.
In our lesson from Acts, Stephen is in the middle of his homily, a sermon that starts out well but stirs up the crowd to the point that they stone him for the gospel he is preaching. And in Judges, we hear about Samson whose mighty exploits stirred things up across the land.
Sometimes stirring things up can be a good thing even though it can lead to big trouble. Many of us steeped in the traditions of our faith really don’t want such stirrings; we don’t want to be disturbed or troubled. But if we don’t stir things up on occasion, our very souls can fall asleep.
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