Showing my age: I once had a friend who owned an ocelot called “TearAlong (the Dotted Lion)” A few weeks ago, I had a dental procedure which required my permission. The nurse shoved three wordy documents at me and told me to sign my name “here…and here…and here”. What have I done? Maybe the small print included something about being executed at dawn! Y’never know, when you sign your name on the line, just what you’ve agreed to. Readings for this upcoming weekend are about Jesus, who laid his life on the line; and also how his followers are urged to risk their own lives for the betterment of the community. Heavy stuff.
Acts 4:5-12 continues the story about Peter & John after “their” healing of the lame man at the Temple. Authorities were outraged, not only that these two had usurped their monopoly of God-dispensing, but these disciples had done it in the name of Jesus–whom they thought they had eliminated. Peter spoke in the believers’ defense, being filled with the Holy Spirit: “let it be known to all of you…that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…” He told of how Jesus saw fit to lay down his life–to put his life on the line–to make the world and its people Whole again.
The Epistle continues in the First Letter of John, 3:16-24. What is probably the entire message is announced in v.16: “We know love by this, that [Jesus] laid down his life for us–and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.” John’s community is urged to go beyond words and speech to truth and action! The author reminds us that we have a boldness from God to actively love one another. One of the things we’ve put aside during these pandemic times of quarantine is that sense of loving community. That is, we’ve refined it to include only those whom we choose to ZOOM with, and we can duck out at any time. Today’s readings emphasize that we’re all on this ship together, and that living out our spirit-compulsion is a reflection of the person and ministry of Jesus Christ.
John 10:11-18 is the famous Good Shepherd passage: “The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” It can be dangerous to confront the hungry wolf! As God through Jesus develops the flock, the disciples’ job is to prepare a safe sanctuary to welcome the “tempest-tossed, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. How much can we dare to go out of our comfort-zone in behalf of these, our fellow-travelers? What does Jesus mean about “other sheep that do not belong to this fold”? He has a heavenly mandate to lay his life on the line–and expects his followers to do likewise.
I confess that this expectation often turns into an intellectual exercise, for me. My words are braver than my deeds. I’ve prayed for courage to speak truth to power; but shrink away from danger to my prestige or pension. Am I too old to be an activist again? When I was young, lean and hungry it was much easier. My sympathies are quite aligned with the women of Africa who have to walk three miles for water; I walk by the smelly man who panhandles at the door of the post office… These words in church, this weekend, are meant to stick with us, to embolden us to make the wounded whole. May we be blessed…
In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King
My meeting with scripture assigned to the upcoming weekend can be known every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com
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