The Second 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.

St Paul escapes death to heal others from death's attacks. Death attacks us in various ways including diseases. These diseases may not always lead to death, but the shadow of death lays over our flesh. Even as the soldiers and criminals come ashore from their whip wreck, the shadow of death covers these soldiers.

It is easy for most of us to think diseases happen for a reason. The people of Malta assume that since St Paul was bitten by a viper, he must be a criminal and deserving of death. On account of St Paul's sins he did deserve death, he even deserved all the pain and suffering he had received through the years. St Paul may call himself chief of sinners, but do you think that he was a worse sinner than you? Do you really think that you are a better person than St Paul?

We are all sinners! Will any of us escape death, from the sea or the serpent? Death comes to us on account of our sins. Christ dies for the forgiveness of all our sins. He takes our sin upon himself and even strikes the head of the ancient serpent, our evil foe, the Devil. Christ is crucified for your salvation from both the metaphoric sea (flood) and serpent (Devil). He will heal you of your diseases, on the last day if not sooner.