"Doing Good"

Dear All Saints and St Marys

The Acts of the Apostles was written about 100 AD, a generation after the first Gospels. It contains stories about the growth of the church, and reflects some of the concerns they were having, as local Christian communities were becoming more established. Yet, preserved within these chapters, there are some very early summaries of Jesus’s life. These verses show how the earliest Christians talked about Jesus, before later refinements were made (such as we say each week in the Creed). One important early description is found in Acts 10.38, with four different descriptions of Jesus. Each of these captures something true about Jesus, as they experienced him in his own lifetime, and also as we experience him now.

‘God anointed Jesus with power’: yes, God’s power was evident, as he taught and as he fed people in amazing ways. ‘Jesus healed those who were oppressed’: yes, Jesus released people trapped by illness, stigma, or lack of love. ‘For God was with him’: yes, when we meet Jesus, we meet God.

But my favourite phrase is this: ‘Jesus went about doing good’. It is such a simple phrase, but it condenses into five words so much of what I believe about Jesus. Whatever troubles he met, whoever he came across, whatever difficult circumstances he encountered, Jesus simply did good. He made goodness happen, and not only left people in a better place – but also gave them the power to continue doing good themselves. In our culture, being a “do-gooder” is a critical description, usually delivered with a sneer. But I don’t think it should be. How about this wonderful quotation from a Quaker missionary, who was saying in different words what Acts 10.38 is pointing us towards:

“I shall pass this way but once. Any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

This Sunday's Worship on 22nd June

8:00 - Holy Communion, All Saints
10:00 - Holy Communion, St Mary’s
10:30 - Café Church, All Saints

The week ahead

Weds 25th June 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer  - All Saints
Thurs 26th June 10:00am - Holy Communion - St. Marys
Saturday 28th June 12noon - 1.30pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’s

Sunday 29th June 

8:00am - BCP Holy Communion - All Saints
10:00am - Holy Communion, St Mary’s
10:30am - Holy Communion, All Saints

Revd Bob.