As we enter this final week of the Easter season, our readings continue to tell the story of those first Christians who spread across the land to share the good news of the Gospel.
But did that good news land on willing ears?
Today’s readings, especially, are a reminder that the world was (and still is) divided by those who felt they did not need to hear any message of hope or salvation and those who were desperately seeking such a message.
The poor. The homeless. Children without parents. Women without husbands. The sick and the weak. They were all marginalized in society … swept like dust into a corner so that they can remain out of sight and out of mind. Still are in many ways.
Whenever I think of the plight of children in an often cruel world, I can’t help but think of that classic story, The Little Match Girl, by Hans Christian Andersen. You can read that here.
In today’s Psalm reading from Psalm 68, God refers to himself as … “The father of orphans and the defender of widows” He promises that He … “… gives a home to the forsaken; he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.”
By extension, as we have been reading, he also challenged Paul and the rest of the Apostles to do the same. To be his eyes and ears, his hands and feet here on earth.
Today, that same challenge is presented to us … the challenge to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, visit the prisoners and give the message of Christian hope to all.
As many of us know and have experienced firsthand, such outreach is not always wanted, not always accepted and sometimes ridiculed and challenged by others.
These are the times we live in; nothing new about that.
And still, we try.
Why do we try?
Well, it feels good to help the poor, right? It’s like Christmas when you’re an adult. After years of childhood when you couldn’t wait to open those shiny packages under the tree, you eventually reach an age of wisdom to know that it is much better to give than it is to receive.
So, yeah, it feels good.
But also, it is our duty as Christians. From the day we were baptized, we were made members of a family whose calling is to build up the kingdom of God here on earth.
Challenging? Yes.
A mission without hope? Not at all…
Today’s Gospel … “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16)
Never forget … we have won.
The victory party awaits. We just need to bring as many guests as we can.
