In Orthodoxy (and I suspect other traditions, but I’m not sure – please chime in) we read the Book of Acts after Pascha. This early History of the Church leads us through several interesting episodes as we see the church grow, interact with the world around it, and the personalities that shape it, like Sts. Stephen and Saul/St. Paul, St. Philip, Tabitha, etc. Today, at the Mid-Feast of Pentecost, it was interesting to note that Acts covers nearly 30 years.

I find these readings to be a good reminder, as I am wont to relax a bit too much after the rigors of Lent. One reading that particularly recently struck me was the account of Simon the Magician:

9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into[c] the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
20Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
24Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."
25When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

Tradition teaches that he left Christianity, returned to his pagan ways, was involved in Gnosticism, and persecuted the church

What I found so intriguing was that we all have that temptation to take the easy way out – to want to buy our way into the Kingdom of Heaven (or perfect looks, or a svelte body, or any number of goals). These readings remind us that the way is always clear - and it isn’t through sloth and laziness, it is through our sincere repentance, prayer and the narrow path , even in the days after Pascha.

May I learn to listen to this reminder.

-On a side note, thank you for your kind words about the Q&A - it was a lot of fun and I appreciate everyone who played along. And I encourage you all to play as well –I can't wait to see!