The Third Sunday in Lent (NTA)

Acts 28:1-10

After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. ² The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. ³ When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. ⁴ When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. ⁶ They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. 

⁷ Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. ⁸ It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him. ⁹ And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. ¹⁰ They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed. 

How many times have you escaped death? I was recently talking with someone who was recalling multiple times when he and his family escaped death. There are so many times in our life, when we can think of that close call.  There are other times when we escape death by beating cancer. Think of all the times when you have escaped death, and yet you still face death everyday. Remember Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, there was an old man that was escaping prison in order to fall trapped in something worse saying, "I'm Free! I'm Free! Dang It!"

St Paul escaped death with his ship mates to come upon the shore of Malta.  The natives helped them build a fire and welcomed them.  St Paul hands in his support by throwing a few sticks upon the fire, and a viper clings to his hand trying to escape the flames.  But St Paul shakes it off into the flames, so the snake would be consumed by fire. (Any time you have a serpent in the bible there can be some strange things to pull out.)

St Paul escaped death even by the poison of a snake bite.  St Paul survives and he is thought of as a divine being, but St Paul is only a son of God as each of you are through Jesus Christ.  We often times lose track of how many times God has moved us an inch or two, stopped us from being some place we shouldn't, and even deliver us from death.

The father of Publius lay sick and probably at deaths door, but St Paul pulls him back from death by the grace of God.  He reveals to many people the healing power of God.  God our savior has provided life to many people through this shipwrecked servant.  God offers likewise life to each of you through his only Son Jesus Christ.

St Paul is dead.  St Peter is dead.  The father of Publius is dead. Christ even was dead.  But These people will not suffer eternal flame as the ancient serpent.  You are likewise offered life even if you die through Jesus Christ our Lord.  He will rescue you from the eternal death, great than he may have saved you already from many things that could have killed you.