You Are Welcome
Here!
On June 17, 1885, the dismantled Statue of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of America, arrives in New York Harbor after being shipped across the Atlantic Ocean in 350 individual pieces packed in more than 200 cases. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/june-17/statue-of-liberty-arrives-in-new-york-harbor
Peter says to the lame man who dances his way into the Temple, You are welcome here! The Statue of Liberty says to immigrants who work their way into the United States, You are welcome here too!
Reading…through the Bible: Nehemiah 7-9/Acts 3
“I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!”…The man then goes into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. (Acts 3:6-10)
In earlier days, lame priests couldn’t enter the Temple (Leviticus 21:17-18). In Jesus’ day, after He overthrows the money changers, the blind and the lame have room to walk right in. In the temple, he heals them (Matthew 21:14).
Peter, in our passage, follows suit. He and John go up to the Temple themselves. Then they help the lame man do the same. At the hour of prayer, they say to a man who from his birth hasn’t been able to enter the temple, You are welcome here.
Writing…
Today, we mark the day that the parts for the Statue of Liberty arrive in the United States. Today, we must also clarify the purpose of those parts.
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” (The New Colossus by Emma Lazaru)
In protest to a President who wants to disassemble our lady liberties, we must reassemble those parts again. In the face of those who want us to abandon our noble purposes, we must recommit to them. Even though our table may be much more modest that those set with wealth and power, we must open it to all those who yearn to breathe free. We must sing a new Hospitality Song to the world…