trying not to be a cautionary tale

Today we read from Acts 8:14-40 in the One Year Bible. We read the story of Simon, who tries to buy the ability to lay hands on people for them to receive the Holy Spirit. St Peter gives him a very stern warning not to do that anymore, and Simon has the sense to ask Peter to pray for him so that the bad things Peter had said won't happen to him.

It reminds me of the story of the man who goes to the doctor, and is in the waiting room after being examined when the doctor comes out and says, "Well, Mr. Jones, the good news is they're naming a disease after you."

We don't want to be cautionary tales, do we? None of us want to have a disease or a sin named after us. We call the sin "Simony" after this man, Simon, who tried to buy something that only God can give, and freely.

In our lives today, we don't want to be cautionary tales, either. To avoid that, let's listen to Simon's wisdom later in the story, and ask the saints to pray for us, so that the evil things that would happen due to our sins might not happen to us. Let's turn away from our temptation to use the gifts God has given us for our selfish gain. And let's learn to bless other people with the good things He's given to us.

God, thank You for teaching us through the life of Simon. Please help us to avoid being cautionary tales.