One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms.
Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 3:1-10 (NRSV)
Are we called to feed the poor? Absolutely. But from a Christian standpoint, alms or welfare are simply not good enough. The Beloved Community happens only when each and every child of God is attended to as a person, and empowered to truly belong: the infirm, recognized as a contributor to shared life. The outcast, as an infinitely worthy denizen of the Kingdom.
A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But [Jesus] said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
Luke 22:24-30 (NRSV)
The Kingdom is here insofar as God is always with us. In being simple and humble--authentic and not so darn self-absorbed--our eyes are opened to this reality.
The Kingdom is not here insofar as we don't see and taste this grace: and we do evil out of despair, grasping vainly at the chimera of greatness.
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