 |
| Happy birthday Geraldine |
My friend from Oklahoma and I exit the subway and take the half-mile walk to Beverley Church, passing by the Victorian style houses in this neighborhood named for the London setting for Peter Pan. We note the gardens, the houses that remind me of my hometown south of Pittsburgh and the ceramic workshop, Mexican bakery and Bengladeshi Halal restaurant that show the neighborhood in midst of change. A man notices our interest and offers us a fsbo (for sale by owner deal) before he goes to an agency. Only 1.7 million for the whole house. As is. Well, not today.
This day is also special because it is Geraldine's birthday. Evgeny and Geraldine are having tea as we arrive and Evgeny, always the genial host, offers to get us tea as well. Soon enough it is time for the service.
 |
| ready for reflection |
So here's what I had to say:
We are at the end of a long holiday weekend. One where we remember and honor the best of what our nation is supposed to be. The ideals that seek to inform the best of who we are....So important these days with what is swirling around us....
The controversy around migration became visibly real for me as I spent two weeks in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, the beginning places of the so-called caravans. World wide there are more people on the road than ever before...
I'm wondering what's been on your mind, this holiday weekend. What your joys, concerns are. Your families.
The gospel passage this week is a tough one. Lots of edges and corners and twists and turns and places to get lost.
Let me start with some free association...
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. These are the emissaries of the kingdom, LDS (apparently we can't say Mormon anymore) missionaries. The freedom riders going to the south for voters registration, Presbyterian missionaries across the world bringing ministries of health and education and social justice...
2He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3Go on your way.
Life is hard for the small churches like this...God asks of us nothing beyond our best. And yet we feel so small....and what is it, after all, what is God asking us to do ? And what is the harvest?
See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. So are the migrants who are coming from Central America. And North Africa....and...dangers at every turn....from bandits to coyotes to rushing waters and burning deserts and border guards at every turn...so that's how we're being sent out?
4Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. We are sent out to be completely vulnerable and dependent on the people to whom we are sent...
.5Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!' 6And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.
You never lose anything by offering your peace. If it's not accepted it comes back to you.
8Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; Accept hospitality
9cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
Jesus wants us to be about his ministry of healing ....proclaiming the kingdom, the kindom of God
.....and here's the best news of all....
10But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'
This means you don't have to keep beating your head against the wall.....there comes a time to move on....
16"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
When we truly serve in his name and his spirit, he will be there there for us, with us.....and in us...
17The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" 18He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
With every healing, every curing, every restored relationship in reconciliation, every restored substance abuse addict, every child reunited with its parents, every act for social justice, every victory of the people, even small ones, every true act of grace....Satan falls from heaven....
In dangerous circumstances, God will keep us safe. God joins us in the victory that has already been won.
And especially in what we do, we are not to glory. Not to seek credit or honors or Facebook likes. Our glory is that we do them because that is what we do. Because that is what it means to follow Jesus.
Amen
As always we share communion. And today sing Happy Birthday to Geraldine. Then go downstairs for more sharing, including a cake.
We leave for the long subway ride to Marcus Garvey Park where we will meet with the Ecclesia congregation of homeless people.
****
****
The day will end helping to set up the beds and serve the dinner for the women at homeless shelter at Saint Paul and St.Andrew Methodist Church (SPSA) where West Park worshipped for 3 years. the church continues in this volunteer work here. Apart form the usual sandwiches or pizza, Kate always serves a full meal.
"Everyone deserves Sunday dinner," she says. And her 4th of July special includes salmon, ribs and fried chicken, rice, potato salad, coleslaw, corn on the cob and strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream on poundcake for a truly All-American dinner.
 |
| dinner is ready |
No better way to spend the 4th of July.
 |
| kitchen volunteers |
No comments:
Post a Comment