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Roadblocks

Roadblocks

by Rev. Alexandra Robinson on May 07, 2025


Reading: Acts 8:26-40

Every day when I come to work, I make a left turn onto the overpass of I- 35 N and turn west onto 1171. Depending on the backup of that intersection, my commute is either significantly shortened or lengthened, based on how many dump trucks are positioning themselves for their daily tasks. Roadblocks in our own lives signify a problem to overcome or something stopping us from continuing in the path before us.

But one of the most profound messages of Jesus is that roadblocks are eliminated when the Holy Spirit leads us. No longer are limits of the law what bind us, but the message of God’s truth liberates us from bondage to our past, our sin or our perceived roadblocks. In this passage from Acts, Jesus’ message to preach and teach to the ends of the earth is carrying the 12 disciples and the appointed 7 on many paths - journeys of ministering in word and deed. First, the message spreads in Jerusalem, then to Samaria and now, Philip is called to the most unexpected place: a wilderness road between Jerusalem and Gaza. On that road, Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch, and discovers that his faith journey has a lot less roadblocks than you or I might have imagined. In the church world, we call that work of the Holy Spirit by the name - inclusivity.

So when I use the word inclusivity – I want to be clear this is a theological term, revealing how vast, broad and deep God’s love for the world is. This is a term used to describe how the good news spreads to the ends of the earth: meaning all are invited into it. This is a word offered to show that the least, the lost, the lonely have no roadblocks in their way of walking with Jesus.

In this story, the Ethiopian eunuch, (one who has been castrated for the purposes of being non threatening in his role on the court of the queen,) sees a roadblock from worshipping. According to Deuteronomy 23:1 which says that “no one who has been sexually mutilated should be admitted to the house of the Lord,” this eunuch believes he is unwelcome in God’s house. At the same time, he knows Isaiah 56:5 which says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.” This eunuch is returning from Jerusalem and reading the book of Isaiah, looking for hope. So thank goodness for the Holy Spirit, leading Philip to his side, to teach him the good news of Jesus who like him, is one that was “shorn.” And so when the eunuch asks Philip “What is to prevent me from being baptized?” Philip offers no roadblock. Instead Philip pours out the waters claiming this eunuch as God’s own.

I believe that for each of us, the Holy Spirit continually leads us to go around, above and sometimes even through the roadblocks the world places upon God’s love. Perhaps if just for an hour, we can put aside our expected path to follow that is filled with roadblocks, and instead just listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading, the good news of Jesus Christ can be witnessed as more inclusive.


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