During my college days–back in the Last Century–we used to call our friends who majored in Home Ec, “HomeWreckers”. To my limited knowledge, none of them engaged in building deconstruction. ‘Fact, most of us lonely students longed to find or build a home of our own: in the Wedding liturgy, “a haven of blessing and a place of peace.” Five decades later, I can affirm that the concept of “home” is much more than a shelter from the weather. Scriptures for this upcoming weekend recognize this yearning: written to sojourners and aliens in different times and places, they may also speak to those even now anticipating acceptance and nurture.
Acts of the Apostles is a post-Easter book recounting the adventures of Apostles living forth the Resurrection of Jesus, the Lordship of Christ. In Chapter 16:9-15 we’re told of Paul’s vision for Macedonia, and the disciples’ foray there–the first time Christ’s message had reached Europe. In Philippi they sought out “a place of prayer” and found a home-base with Lydia, a local entrepeneur. Wesley says that there are no coincidences, just connections. Home is where you hang your heart, someone said.
We also explore the very end of our Bible, John’s vision of the Ultimate Home (Revelation 21:22-22:5). No need of sun or moon there, for the Glory of the Almighty makes everything bright! A river of living water springs from the throne of God, and along it grow sacred trees whose leaves heal the world! Homeless travelers must find this promise a welcome refuge from the daily grind of slammed doors and exclusion.
The Farewell of Jesus in the Upper Room at the Last Supper takes up a great portion of John’s Gospel. The passage read today is Chapter 14:23-29, beginning with “Jesus answered [Judas], ‘Those who love me will keep my [Presence], and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.'” To build a home could be translated to “craft or fashion” a home. When John wrote down this Gospel, the community of faith which he pastored were looking for a home, now that the synagogues were no longer sheltering or welcoming. “Do not let your hearts be troubled…” N. B.– Jesus is talking about NOW, not necessarily a Future Coming; this is about a spiritual indwelling within the lives of the Believers…
It’s now up to our congregations, folks, to embrace the Homemaking skills given by God! Our preaching is shallow if it ends without a reminder that church members are indeed the purveyors of Godly Welcome! Greeting and caring for the “different”–the LGBT, the bi-polar, those in wheelchairs, the addicted, even those disguised as normal–should be an automatic reaction to what’s been heard. It’s difficult, but required.
God Bless Us Every One Horace Brown King
My ruminations on Lectionary readings for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook, or at horacebrownking.com
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