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Trinity Episcopal Church Hattiesburg, Mississippi Fourth Sunday After Easter (Easter 5) May 6, 2007 Go To Trinity's Home Page

Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148
Revelation 21:1-6
John 13:31-35
Collect of the Day
From the Revised Common Lectionary as Adapted for Use by the Episcopal Church
and Authorized by the 75 th General Convention of the ECUSA

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, `Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I replied, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time the voice answered from heaven, 'What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:1-18)

The Apostle Meets the Beaver
The Rev. Dr. Bill Stroop

     The two boys were walking down the street when they passed a new billboard advertising Zesto Soup.[1] On the billboard a woman is holding a large bowl of soup, with steam coming of the bowl. “Beaver is fascinated by the billowing steam. Whitey swears there is real soup in the bowl but Beaver says in that typical Beaver way, ‘Nah, it’s just a billboard!’ Whitey dares Beaver to prove it isn’t soup, so Beaver shinnies up the billboard. He peeps in the bowl and reports it is just a hose. But before he can climb back down, he falls into the bowl. After several unsuccessful attempts to climb out, he calls down to Whitey that he is trapped. The firemen come and finally rescue Beaver, who has learned one of life’s most valuable lessons: Don’t take dares. His Dad, Ward, says to the Beav, “As you go through life, try to improve yourself, not prove yourself.” Ward tries to pass it off as a quote from some philosopher, but we all know that philosopher’s last name was Cleaver. Hugh Beaumont who played Warn Cleaver was in fact a Methodist lay preacher and religious film actor.

     Episode 153, “In the Soup” that aired May 6, 1961 is considered by some TV historians to be the best of the 234 episodes of Leave it to Beaver that aired between October 1957 to September 1963. "Despite its six-year-run as a prime-time network offering, Leave it to Beaver never made top-twenty-five TV shows of its day. Nevertheless, its down-to-earth writing, low-key acting and uncontrived storylines served as a memorable and well-crafted idea of what middle class family life in general and suburban kid-dom in particular were supposed to be like. Although Leave it to Beaver did not deal with the significant social issues of its time, that should not be surprising; that was a common flaw of all TV programs of its time. Many of the TV shows of the late 50’s and early 60’s unpretentiously advocated the virtues of personal responsibility and self-respect. The TV critic Robert Lewis Shayon once observed that Ward and June Cleaver were ‘Mr. and Mrs. Average-American living in their typical Good Housekeeping home’.”[1]

     Although what appeared on our 23 inch black and white console Philco televisions was not a valid reflection of typical middle-class life (did your mother cook meat loaf while wearing a dress and pearls?), it was something that many desperately wanted to believe was real. It was as if the country created nostalgia on a daily basis; it made us feel good about ourselves. We as a people helped to inform what was reflected on TV, and in turn TV helped shape our identity.

     The Apostle Peter knew who he was too. He knew his place in society. Much of his identity was shaped by the long-standing traditions of his Jewish religion and culture. All of those rules in Torah – 613 of them in all – gave Peter his identity as good Jewish person. He knew, for example, that if he had mildew on some garment, and the priest said it was a destructive kind of mildew, the garment was to be burned (Lev. 12:47). He knew not to animals that chewed their cud or had split hooves (Lev 11:4) because to do so would make him unclean. The same was true of certain birds like nighthawks, owls, and pelicans (Lev 11:13-18). If a water animal lacked scales or fins, he knew not to consume it (Lev. 11:12). But grasshoppers, locusts, and katydids were acceptable alternatives (Lev 11:23). Tradition as well as law told Peter what to wear, when to pray, whom to associate with, and whom to shun. He had his work as the owner of a fishing fleet, and he had his family.

     At least that’s how it was for Peter until Jesus came along. Jesus inspired Peter to see things differently and perhaps to question some of the reasons behind the traditions and laws that were as much a part of him as his own skin.

     And then something remarkable occurred. While visiting other believers in Christ in Lydda, he found that he had the ability to heal in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:32-35), and, as we heard last week, he raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:36-43). But then something even more startling happened. Right in the middle of the day (Acts 10:9), Peter had a vision. He saw a huge cloth containing all kinds of critters that the third book of the Torah declared unfit for consumption by Holy persons of God. A loud voice told Peter, “Go ahead, Peter, eat these things.” “Oh no, Lord, I am a good Jew. I have never once let any profane or unclean thing ever pass my lips!” “Peter, Peter! What are you saying? If God is good, and God created everything on earth, then there is not one thing for you to call profane.” This was shocking stuff; he was being told that a good deal of his identity – based on untold generations of tradition, law, and teaching – was called into question. The rules he had followed all of his life that defined him and gave him meaning were called into question!

     Jesus had modeled for his disciples a world of equality of persons where social and societal barriers were removed. At the last supper according to John’s gospel, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet in an act of great humility and generosity. The mutuality of care and the removal of the barrier between servant and master were reflected in Jesus’ actions toward his disciples that night. He asked them – and us – to emulate his behavior. He showed how true heartfelt hospitality could knock down social barriers and forge a real sense of communion and community – not like the artificial nostalgic world of Leave it to Beaver.

     Peter’s vision enlarged his understanding of what Jesus had taught him. He welcomed Gentile persons into the home where he stayed, and he willingly entered the house of the Gentile Cornelius when he traveled to Caesarea on his way to Jerusalem. And in Cornelius’ house he witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit to transform the lives of Gentiles. Seeing how the power of God transformed the lives of non-Jews just like his life had been transformed, he then baptized the members of Cornelius’ household in the name of Jesus Christ.

     When Peter finally got to Jerusalem, his colleagues had heard what he had done and they pitched a fit. Was he nuts!? How dare he break with tradition! But when he explained that if God gave the Gentiles the same gift that he gave to the Jews when they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could he possibly opposed the will of God by shunning or ignoring the them?

     Peter understood what Jesus meant when he had said, “ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” Note that the verse about loving one another is different from the Great Commandment in Matthew and Mark that says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” and the commandment in Matthew to “love your enemies.”[2] John wants us to understand that we are to love and respect not only those of our own community, but to also love those who are not just like us.

     John and Peter are on the same page; they have the same understanding of our responsibility toward each other. We need to love even those who hurt us, disagree with us, and who betray us. It means we must fulfill our Baptismal covenant and treat all people with dignity as we strive for justice and peace. We are to love all people like Jesus loved the twelve.

     This includes the community of the Church. This is not easy, particularly as we face some of the thorny issues ahead of us. But this is the community into which we are called. As we move toward Pentecost, we need to reflect on what our Christian community is called to do and our roles as disciples of Christ within our community and the world around us. The Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote that “it is only because [Jesus] became like us that we can become like him … Because of Jesus, we can “ ‘walk even as he walked’ (I John 2.6), and ‘do as he has done’ (John 13.15), ‘love as he has loved’ (Eph. 5.2; John 13.34; 15.12), [and] ‘forgive as he forgave’ (Col. 3.13).” [3]

     “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” [4] We have all been called to be disciples of Jesus.

     Let us pray:

Eternal Father, source of life and light, whose love extends to all people, all creatures, and all things: Grant us that reverence for life which becomes those who believe in you; lest we despise it, degrade it, or come callously to destroy it. Rather let us save it, secure it, and sanctify it, after the example of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [5]Amen.

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Acts 11:1-18

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, `Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I replied, `By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time the voice answered from heaven, `What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”

Psalm 148 Laudate Dominum

1 Hallelujah!
Praise the LORD from the heavens; *
praise him in the heights.

2 Praise him, all you angels of his; *
praise him, all his host.

3 Praise him, sun and moon; *
praise him, all you shining stars.

4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, *
and you waters above the heavens.

5 Let them praise the Name of the LORD; *
for he commanded, and they were created.

6 He made them stand fast for ever and ever; *
he gave them a law which shall not pass away.

7 Praise the LORD from the earth, *
you sea-monsters and all deeps;

8 Fire and hail, snow and fog, *
tempestuous wind, doing his will;

9 Mountains and all hills, *
fruit trees and all cedars;

10 Wild beasts and all cattle, *
creeping things and winged birds;

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, *
princes and all rulers of the world;

12 Young men and maidens, *
old and young together.

13 Let them praise the Name of the LORD, *
for his Name only is exalted,
his splendor is over earth and heaven.

14 He has raised up strength for his people
and praise for all his loyal servants, *
the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
Hallelujah!

Revelation 21:1-6

I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.”

John 13:31-35

At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

[1] Information about Episode 153 “In the Soup” of Leave it to Beaver was adapted from Vince Staten, “The 10 Neatest Episodes” originally written for Saturday Review and Satellite Orbit, May 1985. Accessed 3 May 2007 at http://www.leaveittobeaver.org/showinfo/showinfo_10.htm and from The Museum of Broadcast Communications Accessed 3 May at http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/L/htmlL/leaveittob/leaveittob.htm
[2] The Great Commandment is in Mt 22:34-40 and Mk 12:28-31. “Loving ones enemies” is in Mt 5:44.
[3] Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Cost of Discipleship. (New York, NY: Touchstone & Simon and Schuster, 1959) 304.
[4] Jn 13:34b
[5] A prayer by Archbishop Robert Runcie as found in George Appleton, ed. The Oxford Book of Prayer. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 1988) 123.

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Copyright © 2007, William G. Stroop - All Rights Reserved.
3 May 2007

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