Word to the Wise
Saturday, May 18, 2013 - 7th Week of Easter - Sat morning
[Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 and John 21:20-25]There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.
Every good story has an ending, even if it is a temporary one ("in our next episode.....") The Gospel of John has two endings. Chapter 20 ends at verse 30 with the words, "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name." Then Chapter 21 begins as if those words had not been written, and ends with the words quoted above! The Acts of the Apostles also ends today with St. Paul in Rome, preaching. This was the goal of Luke's story - to take the gospel from Galilee to Jerusalem to Rome.
Is the "story" ended? No, people are still writing books about what Jesus did and said. And the preaching continues beyond Rome to the whole planet! The gospel is the "Good News" but the written gospels are not the final word! The Living Tradition of the church continues to proclaim this word until the Lord comes again! The Bible is a collection of "stories" that are part of a bigger reality, even if the Bible is the truth about God's plan in Jesus Christ. Our preaching and writing has to be faithful to what is said in the Bible and in accord with the living tradition of the church, but the STORY has to continue to be told in the "stories" that we tell. The celebration of Pentecost will give us the reminder that it is the Holy Spirit who will serve as our inspiration and editor! AMEN