The view of the early Christian community gives us a reality check this week. Up until this point in the Easter cycle, we have seen a group of people apparently always getting along, sharing everything, with no complaint; but today’s reading from Acts lets us know that there were some divisive things that arose in their community as it grew, much like in most communities.  This is not to say that there wasn’t much good will, love, caring and sharing that went on, but the human condition is such that in any group of people, challenges arise in attempting to be a community.  Today, in Acts, we see there is an issue of justice that brings division—apparently the Hebrew widows are receiving more than the Greek widows of the daily food allotment.

But more important than the fact that there is upset or division is the fact of what is done about it!  The apostles are wise in putting the issue to the community–the problem arose within the community; thus they should be part of the solution—would that it were that way within all church communities!

Two issues are raised by the example of the apostles saying, “It is not right for us to neglect the Word of God in order to wait on tables.”  First, and this is the lesser and more practical issue—the apostles do need assistance in ministering to this growing community and therefore it was right for them to ask the community for assistance, but not, in my mind, as they say, because “it is not right to neglect the Word of God,” in order to wait on tables, as if this is beneath them.  Apparently they missed what Jesus did for them at the Last Supper!  Scripture doesn’t say, but hopefully someone set them straight.  “Preaching the Word” is always about service first—if they couldn’t see, that, waiting on tables,  was in fact, “preaching the word,” then hopefully, at some point, someone did indeed set them straight!  But because they couldn’t do it all, again it was right to ask for help.

The readings today are so much about the fine nuances that we are called to as Jesus’ followers, the practicality of everyday living. As we discussed last week, it is here that the true test comes, not what we say we believe, but what we in fact DO!

We see this in 1^st Peter’s account today which serves as our second reading.  Jesus is called the “corner stone” of the building, even though in his life and death he was rejected by some—basically those in power.  1^st Peter goes on to talk about Jesus as the “living stone” and all of us who follow his way, as living stones, together building a spiritual house.  We see that Jesus is the “living stone” not because of what he does primarily, but because of who he is.  Now that having been said, we know that what he does is influenced by who he is.  So again, there is that fine nuancing, trying to make clear what it is that we as Jesus’ followers are to be about.  We, as Jesus, are first and foremost God’s beloved, and because of that, we are called likewise, to give back.

We truly are shown that status in this community of living stones, following the Living Stone, Jesus, is not to be lifted up, but because we know who we are and to whom we belong, the work of lovingkindness, righteousness and justice is to be lifted up as we prayed about in our psalm response today, “the Creator loves justice and right, and fills the earth with love.”  And again, we think back to the issue raised in Acts about what following Jesus is really all about—not status, but service.

A recent example comes to mind in this regard: This past week we learned that the bishop of the Minnesota diocese of Crookston held, “serving the Church” —which, in his mind meant protecting the institution, above giving compassionate care to one of his flock. He apparently resorted to blackmail and coercion to accomplish this.

In this, we see that the message of Jesus, giving in service, out of love, is not different from the messages of the prophets of old—in Jesus, we see that the original message of covenant love given by the Creator is made complete in him because of his willingness to give all of himself, out of love for them/for us—something we would hope to see in our present day “servants.”

Again using the terminology of the “living stone” from 1^st Peter where all who follow Jesus are then too, living stones, we see that together they/we make up not only a “spiritual house,” but truly become the “People of God” in the original covenant made between God and the Israelites.  1^st Peter does a fine job here of uniting the Israelite tradition to the Christian experience.

In the gospel selection today from John we are given a very comforting message—“do not let your hearts be troubled…in God’s house there are many dwelling places…I am indeed going to prepare a place for you…that where I am, you also may be.”  We see Jesus’ gentle care for his apostles as he tries to prepare them for his coming ordeal. He doesn’t focus though on the end of his life, but only on the joyful events that will follow it.  We should notice what Jesus is perhaps trying to tell us—the sadness, the hard times when we may be rejected or called to suffer will pass, but the joy will continue for all eternity.

It gives me a great deal of hope to think about Jesus being with me each and every day, which is one of the meanings of his words, “I will come again, along with his coming at the end of time.

The early Christians, those who were attracted to follow this new religious group, first known as followers of The Way, joined them, we are told, because of what they saw them doing, how they were attempting to live. That is what will cause others to follow us friends; if they see something good in our actions.

Our focus must always be bigger than our own lives, our own agendas—the good of the entire “spiritual house” must be our focus as it was for Jesus. The question must be:  What actions will truly bring about the good of the whole?   Many of us find ourselves frustrated these days by the lack of this concept coming from leadership in Washington.

Each of us is called as a Christian to follow Jesus’ way—not a physical path as Thomas presumed, but a way of life, based on truth that gives us life. Jesus assures us that if we follow this way of goodness, justice, lovingkindness and mercy—then we have seen God and will one day see God in all the glory that God is.

In the gospel today, Jesus is quoted as saying, “No one comes to God except through me.”  What are we to make of that?  What about those who live well, but are Jews, Buddhists, practice Islam? Jesus’ way is lived well by many in this world who don’t live as his followers per se.   One example: A student asked his Buddhist master—“What is the deepest meaning of Buddhism? The master turned to the student, bowed and gave the words of a wise person, “Beware of the religion that turns you against one another—it’s unlikely that its religion at all.”

Our history has given us many examples of this: Manifest Destiny, the institution of slavery, born out of racism, an evil that seems to have been raising its ugly head again in our present day through violence and discrimination against those with dark skin, the sexual trafficking of our youth—our future, another off-shoot of not seeing all as the Beloved of God.

As a Cojourner with the Rochester Franciscans, I am part of a Water Group that looks at ways that we can protect our wonderful gift of water for all of God’s people.  I know that many of you are involved with groups that work toward the good of all the people of God. We must all be part of such activities that uplift rather than bring down.  When we are aware of injustice, we must speak up, even if we have to do it alone.  As we said last week, sometimes our voice is what is needed, to get things rolling!

We must remember Jesus’ words to us, “You will do greater things than I” as we attempt to follow in his footsteps. The challenge is before us friends to make a difference—to be people of peace, not war; to value people more than possessions, titles or institutions; to realize anew that we need God and we need each other and must work in this world to bring a good life for all.  The gospel message is here before us—the question is; will we be living stones in the spiritual house or not?

It would seem that we should attempt as often as possible to connect the happenings of our week with the Scriptures offered to us on Sunday and throughout the week. In that vein, here goes:

1) As you all know, I have been struggling to get my body back into balance.  The most interesting and probably remarkable thing about this sojourn with pain has been coming to terms with what chronic pain is and even more so, on a positive note, how well my body has dealt with the scoliosis that I apparently have had since I was 12.

2) I have of late been reading some autobiographical material by Maya Angelou. She writes well—in a very engaging way. I find myself understanding so much more clearly through her words, what it is like to be judged negatively for something one can’t do anything about, the color of your skin, or that you are a woman, or that you are old, or because of whom you love.

3) A friend sent this story: A person stopped for the yellow light, the person who was tailgating furiously honked because they missed their chance to get through the intersection.  Still in mid-rant, the person heard a tap on the window. The officer ordered the person to exit the car with hands up, was ultimately taken to the station, searched, finger-printed, photographed and placed in a holding cell.  After a couple of hours, a police officer escorted the would-be criminal back to the booking desk and the arresting officer who said, “I am very sorry for the mistake, but I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, and giving the person in front of you the finger. I noticed the “What Would Jesus Do?” bumper sticker, the “Choose Life” license plate holder, “Follow Me To Sunday School” bumper sticker and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk, so naturally I assumed you had stolen the car.

People are watching!

4) I have been troubled as I have considered those who have died by lethal injection in Arkansas during the month of April. I think we were all upset by the rush to accomplish these deaths “before the drugs to ‘do the deed’ ran out!”

5)  A final story comes from Jimmy Kimmel, a comedian on late night TV.  He and his wife recently had a son. As the baby was being checked over after birth, it was discovered that he had a rare defect with a heart valve that required emergency surgery if he was to live. Kimmel spoke with great emotion as he shared the fear and anxiety that he and his wife went through in their son’s early moments of life—it is a concern that all of us can understand.  After letting his audience know that their son was all right now, he shifted gears, putting out an impassioned and emotional plea to the legislators in Washington debating over the Affordable Care Act telling them that no parent should have to decide if they can afford to save their child—we all understand that regardless of political affiliation!

So, how do all of these seemingly different examples bring clarity to today’s Scriptures?  Looking in just a cursory way over today’s readings; we are aware that Peter and the others continue to passionately tell the story of Jesus, who he was, what he did and because of the Spirit working through them, more are added to their number every day.  Peter makes it clear in the 2^nd reading that to be baptized in Jesus, the Christ means that we must follow in his footsteps no matter the cost.   Our hope is renewed in John’s Gospel where we hear Jesus’ words, “I came that you might have life and have it to the full.” It would seem that doing the right thing is what brings fullness.

Friends, I believe that in each example I cited: from my personal struggles with pain  to Maya Angelou’s experiences of racism, to the struggle in this country to work toward rehabilitating rather than exacting punishment for crime, to sharing the goods of this land of the people, by the people, and for the people, all of it fits because Jesus through his life asked us to be our best—to walk into life with eyes wide open, hearts big and generous, understanding and merciful!

This weekend we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday.  Two of our readings, plus our music speak of this pastoral image that calls to mind a peaceful country scene of sheep being watched over and protected by a loyal herdsperson—a shepherd.

The 23^rd psalm has been a beloved piece of scripture over the years—many people know it by heart for having prayed it so many times.  One aspect of this beloved psalm that is generally picked up on by most people who love it is the individual care given to each sheep and by transference, to each of us as the beloved of our God.  We sang of this individualized care and concern in the psalm response:  “Shepherd me, O God.”

And beyond this individualized care; we must hear in this psalm that the Good Shepherd doesn’t act so out of simply, passing, emotional sentiment, but because it is the right thing to do.  All the cited examples speak to this issue, from personal health to public health, to treating all people, as the beloved of God.

Continuing the theme and idea of the shepherd watching over the flock, it is important for us 21^st Century hearers to understand how the 1^st Century hearers of Jesus’ words would have taken them.  Large sheepfolds were generally constructed outside of town and several flocks would be kept in one sheepfold.  Someone would be hired to look after the sheep.  There was one gate to enter the enclosure. Those who would be about the good—the welfare of the flock, entered through the gate. Anyone else, a thief, would sneak in another way.  When the owner of a particular flock came to retrieve their sheep, the owner would call their sheep in a distinctive way that only they would recognize, and come. Many shepherds knew their sheep as individuals and called them by name.  It is this same kind of care and attention that each of us is promised by our God and that Jesus had in mind when he said, “I came that you might have life and have it to the full.”

There is great comfort in knowing that we are loved and cared for by such a God—such a love gives us the courage— the strength then, to go out and love generously in return—to give back in righteousness what we have so generously been given.  Part of this giving back is in striving to be our best selves.  This is what Peter is about in the 1^st reading from Acts.  He is calling for a change of heart from his people even though he knows what the demands on them will be in becoming their best selves:  They will be misunderstood at times, there will be insults, but there will be the peace that comes, deep within, from knowing they have spoken the truth, stood alongside the misused and abused, even if they are in the minority.

Jesus continually spoke up for the misused, abused, and persecuted ones in his midst—he had to suffer as a result of his boldness, his truth-telling and we can expect no less.  Suffering will be a part of our lives as Christians if we are walking in Jesus’ footsteps and of all the ways we can suffer in this life, it is hardest when we are called to suffer for having done nothing wrong—as was the case with Jesus, but for  having done the right thing.  But we must always remember and never forget that Jesus has shown us the way,

It is Jesus’ spirit that rings through the examples in my life this week—you can add your own.  Jesus will draw us close and call us to be more through all that comes into our existence. We can either live out the Scriptures, following in Jesus’ footsteps or we can let the selfishness of healthcare for some, but not for all continue.  We can continue to take the easy answer of executing people rather than doing the hard work of rehabilitating them.  We can proclaim our Christianity with bumper stickers, or with deeds—the choice is ours.

Each of us friends is called to do our part—to live a life of service—a life that speaks truth no matter what—a life that will not allow one more person to be abused, put down, thought less of.  We need to let love rule the day—not power, not anger, nor hatred.  Let love be our guide.  Jesus showed us this and what better way to praise and honor him, in this Easter Season then to live likewise. Let us begin to see each other as God sees us and loves us.