Sunday Homily, March 31, 2013, Easter Sunday C
Readings:
Acts 10, 34, 37-43, He went about doing good.
Psalm 118, This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
1 Corinthians 5, 6-8, A little yeast leavens all the dough.
John 20, 1-9, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning.
Acts observations:
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.
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.
Sources: Good News Bible, The New Interpreter’s Study Bible, Wikipedia
Resurrection Life
I would like to talk about two things this Easter Sunday.
First, Resurrection is what for me and for us? I would suggest that it is at least one thing, new life.
Secondly, I would like to exemplify what I mean with a little story from France.
As many of you know, Rosemary & I spent about ten days in France the first two weeks of March. We spent some of the time in the eastern province of Alsace. The province is a vertical, north-south valley bordering the Rhine River, which marks its border with Germany.
The last few days we spent in Paris, a favorite city of ours. We have a small hotel in the region of the Eiffel Tower. Near the hotel is a coffee shop. It is on the corner of Rue Grenelle and Rue de l’Exposition, and it is one of our most favorite places in Paris with all its other wonders. Two reasons.
First, it is warm and cordial. This warmth we especially appreciated our last visit because the days in Paris were not only cold. But all of the Tuesday before we flew home on Wednesday it snowed and snowed. So it was magic to walk the city. It was equally charming to walk in from the cold and snow and have a hot café au lait, or latte in Starbuck’s terms.
Even more delightful was the reception we two Americans received when we walked in. It was ‘Bonjour’ and ‘Bonjour’ yelled to us as we got in the door. The place reminded me a little of the bar in the TV series Cheers. So friendly.
Secondly, after two days, they remembered not only us, but what we wanted. We did not even have to order. They knew we wanted the first of two cafes and would simply begin preparing when we got to the bar. And then we would converse, me with my learner’s French. I am sure that in two more days we would all be on first name basis.
Two women in their late 20’s or early 30’s ran the place or should I say ‘hosted’ the place, and they greeted everyone with same friendliness. Many of the people who came in, naturally they knew.
This small café in Paris gave off life, folks. Occasionally I hear people say that Parisians are unfriendly and rude. I have never found that. They even cheer my efforts at speaking French. The café, however, the name of which I don’t even know, was an exceptional fountain of positive vibes. I looked forward every morning to absorbing that life and left feeling more alive.
This for me is one example of resurrection life.
Where do you find this life?
How & where do you create it?