Excerpt from Acts 8:26-40

"Philip ran up to the chariot and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah.  He asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?'  He replied, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?'"

Reflection by Martin B. Copenhaver

One day, when our children were still very young, a Beatles song came on the radio.  I grew up listening to the Beatles so, of course, I began to sing along.  Then our daughter, Alanna, asked, "Who is that singing?"

For a moment, I was taken aback by her question.  How could she not know who is singing?  Isn't that something that is passed on in the genes?

And then I remember thinking, If she doesn't know about the Beatles, what other things have I mistakenly assumed I would not need to tell her?  Obviously, we cannot assume that our children have somehow brought with them, or will pick up somewhere, the most important things we have to share, including the Christian story of God's fierce and indefatigable love for the world.

One does not learn the story by osmosis.  It has to be told.  After all, the Christian faith is always just one generation away from extinction.

In Acts, we read about an Ethiopian official who, after a visit to Jerusalem, was reading the prophesies of Isaiah while he was riding in a chariot (you have to really want to read something to read it in a moving chariot). Philip was inspired to approach the chariot and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"  And here is the Ethiopian's poignant reply:  "How can I, unless someone guides me?"

Exactly.  No one is born knowing the story of our faith.  It has to be passed on, one generation at a time.

So teach your children, or your grandchildren, or the children of your church the story that has been shared with us.  And, somewhere along the line, teach them about the Beatles also.

Prayer

God, you are here, there and everywhere.  Equip us and inspire us to tell the story that has been shared with us. Amen.

About the Author Martin B. Copenhaver is Senior Pastor, Wellesley Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Wellesley, Massachusetts. He is the author, with Lillian Daniel, of This Odd and Wondrous Calling: the Public and Private Lives of Two Ministers.

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