Our reading from Acts today describes a scene from the earliest days of the church. The community was growing rapidly and as it grew its members were addressing emerging tensions. Today we hear about a complaint from the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Christians) that their widows weren’t being cared for by the “Hebrews” (Aramaic-speaking Christians). Then and now, it seems, language and cultural differences can cause tensions, even discrimination in church communities.
The tension between the two groups had the potential to split the early church and so the community leaders address it expeditiously. Stephen and his companions are chosen “to serve at table,” that is, to feed the hungry. The apostles will focus “on prayer and the ministry of the word.” Since this is the Acts of the Apostles, which some say should be called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit,” the criterion for choosing Stephen is that he is “filled with the Spirit and wisdom.” The first “Spirit-filled” disciples are ready to move on—together.
Are there similar differences in our parishes today? In the more universal church? Do smaller groups feel they have no voice? Have recent arrivals been welcomed? Are there power struggles among the “old timers” and the new parishioners? Are we divided? We are, in some places, and these and other tensions have split communities and convinced people to go elsewhere. Each of us, parish staffs and parishioners, look to the prayerful, welcoming, compassionate and decisive actions of our faith ancestors as our models for how to be the church of Jesus Christ.
It must have been a surprise to the early church that they experienced the growth and enthusiasm they did. The gospel passage today is taken from Jesus’ Last Discourse to his disciples the night before he died. On that occasion the disciples heard news of his impending departure. What could they… How could they… do without him? The next day their dreams were shattered and disillusionment followed. The church was born from Jesus’ pain and loss. New life would come to the broken and scattered disciples, not because of their being able to recover or pull themselves together, but by the breath of the Spirit the risen Jesus would breathe on them. Then they would do the “greater things” Jesus promised at his last meal with them.
I travel a lot. With the vagaries of modern travel I tend to over prepare for a trip: I want to be ready for the unexpected–which always seems to happen! If I am flying, I double check how to get to the airport and the number and location of the departure terminal. I print out my ticket beforehand and check my seat location on the web. If it’s going to be a long trip I pack some food goodies. I make sure I have reading material. I used to be a Boy Scout and their model sticks with me still, “Be Prepared.”
So, I can sympathize with Thomas today. We are alike. Jesus is preparing those gathered around the table with him for his upcoming passion and death. He is leaving them, but He promises to come back and take them with him. He tells them, “Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas is a practical traveller. If he is going somewhere he wants to know where he’s going and how to get there. (I would have also asked, “What day are you coming back and what time we are all leaving with you?”)
Jesus’ answer is not about maps, fixed destinations, and chronological time (“I’ll be back on Tuesday, at 3:30 PM.”) Instead, as we have heard throughout John’s gospel, Jesus makes another “I am” statement about himself, “I am the way ….” He invites his disciples to come to him and put their lives into his hands. We do that by living in relationship with him, listening to his teaching and following his way. That’s how we will come to the life he promises those who have joined him “on the way.” Jesus makes it clear that he is the path to God and if we follow Him, “the way,” we will have “truth”–for he is God’s revelation to us. We will have “life”–for Jesus draws us from the death of sin to new life
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Scriptural readers are familiar with the image Jesus uses to describe himself–“the way.” In the Old Testament the “way” meant conformity to the law, which would yield truth and life for the observant. God promised in Isaiah (40:3) to prepare a way through the desert to bring the exiles home. The very first Psalm refers to “the way,” to encourage our trust as we surrender ourselves into God’s hands, “The Lord watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin” (Psalm 1:6).
Two ways are placed before us: the way of the just and the way of the wicked. As Jesus is saying his farewells to his disciples he’s encouraging them to follow him, as the way of the just — the way to God. He is not just identifying himself as the model which they must follow to achieve life. Rather, he promises when he returns he will make his dwelling with them. Faith is our way to Jesus and when we believe in him we have a new life which enables us to model our lives on his. “… whoever believes in me will do the works I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I’m going to my Father.”
I suppose Jesus certainly could have chosen more effective and influential followers to do the “greater works” he promised we would do. At times, we modern Christians seem so limited, afraid, sinful, fractious and shortsighted. Our first reading today shows that even in the supposed “ideal early church” there were tensions and all-too human weaknesses evident among its members. But working together as a community, guided by the Holy Spirit, they were able to deal with these issues as they arose — never, it seems, effortlessly or without struggle and questions.
In our second reading today Peter calls Christ “a living stone,” and then expands this figure to include us. How do the scripture writers get away with their unusual, even extreme figures of speech? How can stones be living? There is poetic license here isn’t there? Remember the children’s story about the three pigs and the one who protected himself from the “big bad wolf” by building his house of stone? Stones are silent, they make a strong foundation and protect the walls–but whoever thinks of them as living?
Peter is encouraging us to use our imagination: what if the house, the community, Jesus has established, consists of living stones? Doesn’t that mean we are not only a holy dwelling for God, but to be an expansive one also?…with inclusion for all races, nationalities, languages, states of life, sexual orientation, etc.? Holiness means growing with Jesus, “the way,” breathing life into us, enabling us to be “living stones” and spurring us on. Haven’t we experienced Christ’s church as a building of “living stones”? How many times have we sought succor and guidance from our faith community? We are grateful for the times pastoral staffs and holy souls in the community were strength and wisdom for us. Despite the troubles we face these days in our church, we continue to meet innumerable faithful people whose presence at worship and volunteer opportunities minister to those both within and outside the community in need. They and we with them, are “living stones” being built into a holy house of God.