I’ve always liked the idea of a God who takes the initiative–beginning at Creation, intervening with Prophets and Seers, “at the right time” coming as Jesus…and introducing a Holy Spirit just when the Church needs encouragement the most! Eastertide is the season when we specially acknowledge this proactive Other, who reaches from beyond the black frontier of Death to burst again into Life. The word is “Sacrament”, isn’t it? Readings for this Sunday embody this in-breaking of an abundant and overflowing cup.
We begin with Peter’s fantastic story in Acts, Chapter 11: fasting on the roof-top, he had a vision of many animals, Kosher and non-, letting down from heaven on a sort of sheet. As a proper Jew, he rejected some of these as “profane”. But a Greater Voice told him, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” (v.9) Peter rightly understood this as an affirmation that Jesus came to both Jew AND Gentile, a great overflowing of Grace to All.
We again dip into the Revelation for one of my favorite passages: found near the happy ending of the book (chapter 21) we find another vision, this time of the Holy City, New Jerusalem spilling out of heaven to flow over the Earth. (Remember the Sherwin-Williams paint logo, “We Cover the Earth”?) The Christmas Carol sings, “Our God, Heaven can not hold him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.” This is the ultimate Sacrament of Grace, an announcement that despite terror and tribulation, a final love prevails.
John’s Gospel reprises the Last Supper, where Jesus commands love for one another as the Church/Body of Christ congeals and forms. (13:31-35) This comes in greater context of the passage which introduces the Holy Spirit, the Unsought Gift flowing from the Cross to once again flood the earth…..
Reading between the lines, the hearing Church has responsibility to point out where these Sacraments are re-visited in our contemporary life. Believers are the keepers of the stories AND required to lift up the Sacramental healings and other occasions of Grace. Let the visions continue!
God Bless Us, Every One H B King
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