Sunday Homily, April 21, 2013, 4th Easter C
Readings:
Acts 13, 14, & 43-52, Both Paul & Barnabas spoke out boldly.
Psalm 100, We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Revelation 7, 14-17, I, John, had a vision of a great multitude.
John 10, 27-30, I know them, and they follow me.
Acts observations & review:
We have already covered this material. What I have here is a quick reminder.
Date: sometime before the year 70. Why? No mention of the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place the year 70, a Big Date in Jewish history. The Romans destroyed not only Jerusalem, but also the Temple, the only place where the priests offered sacrifices. The temple has never been rebuilt and the priests have been replaced by rabbis, teachers formerly. Today there is a holy mosque on the site of the former temple.
Who: The same person who wrote the Gospel of Luke. How do we know? Similarities of style, language (Greek), and theological themes.
Subject: The story of the expansion of the Jesus story in 3 areas, first, Jerusalem, then, Palestine or the Holy Land, and finally, into the Mediterranean and ultimately, Rome. Stories about the early communities are a bit romanticized, like advertisements for Pleasant Valley Retirement Center.
Today’s Subject: noting that the chapter we are reading is 13, you can guess we are not reading about the first circle, Jerusalem. Not even the second, but the third, the Mediteranian.
Sources: Good News Bible, The New Interpreter’s Study Bible, Wikipedia
The Lord is Good
This morning I would like to talk about the first line of the third stanza of our Psalm 100, ‘The Lord is Good.’
Our week has been extraordinarily stressful. First, the Boston Marathon bombs. Then, West. I actually was in West at the Czech bakery, the original, genuine bakery in town, about 4:00, Wednesday afternoon, just before the explosion. I have fond memories of one really friendly lady at the bakery and hope she is okay.
I would like to say, yes, the Lord is Good. Also, people are good. And, you are good. Here is what I mean despite the stress of the week.
First, Rosemary & I had our routine appointments to give blood at Carter Blood at Preston & LBJ Wednesday & Thursday. When I went in Thursday afternoon the place was more busy than I had ever seen it. Even extra techs had been called in.
I asked why and they said it was because of, first, Boston, and then, secondly, West, which had just happened that morning. The Lord is good. People are good.
Secondly, remember last Saturday, which seems forever ago? Love for the Kids picnic. About a quarter of you volunteered to make that day special for handicapped kids and their families. God is good. People are good. You were good. This is typical.
Thirdly, this past Wednesday, two days after Boston and the day of the West explosion, I went to Austin with a group of which I was humbled to be part of. The Nuns on the Bus.
We departed Dallas at 5:30, 10 of us, 2 guys & myself, 7 women, 3 of whom are nuns. We arrived at the capitol about 10:00 for a little rally on the steps of the capitol building. I expected maybe 50 people. 300 were registered and another 100 joined, 400 all together from all over the state.
My job was to visit my two representatives, Dan Branch & John Corona. It was in Branch’s office that a remarkable event took place.
The Nuns on the Bus, who had advocated throughout the Midwest in the summer before the presidential election, were requesting our government to not forget the poor, especially that the billion dollars of federal money be accepted for expansion of Medicaid this year. 25% of our population is uninsured, a million & a half.
We are talking with the aide, basically just letting him know our case. I have picked up about 6 people from San Antonio, 4 nice, Hispanic little nuns, and a young, nice looking guy. He had a limp.
Suddenly, the guy, John, tells the aide, “Let me tell you my story and why I am here. I walk with a limp because I lost my left leg in Iraq. I got this prosthesis because I was a vet, no question. I could have even gotten one more expensive. I am here because I have become aware that so many people don’t have that care that I had, people who are working full time and still don’t have enough, certainly not enough to buy insurance.”
The reception office went dead silent. Everyone was touched, including the nice kid who was the aide.
God is good. People are good. You are good.
What are you doing to continue to make it better?
Video: The community blessing Chuck's health and his struggle with cancer (1/2 minute)