Balcony Serenades

The Assisted Living/Memory Care facility that I worked at is located in a neighborhood called Banker’s Hill that overlooks the San Diego Airport. Every apartment has a balcony that looks onto the street below. Our team decided to serenade the entire building from the street below with the intention of getting them out into the fresh air, to build community with the neighbors, to make them smile, and to thank all essential workers. Let’s just say that getting an entire building full of seniors in need of assistance and seniors with dementia out onto their balconies at a certain time is um….as easy as teaching toddlers calculus. We had staff and family members on the street with signs of encouragement, all the balcony people had American flags to wave and signs of gratitude, I had my guitar and two songs, “You Are My Sunshine” and “God Bless America”, which seemed to completely cover the sentiment of the day. Once the sweethearts starting making their way out onto the balconies and once they saw us below, the love affair began. The smiles and the sunshine on their faces was priceless, the enthusiastic waving and clapping was infectious, the dancing was adorable, and the sheer delight in the moment proclaimed that, “God SO LOVED the world!” We called out our affection and love to one another and the building transformed from isolation to freedom in one single serenade. One side of our building looks at another large apartment building. When we were done singing I heard applause, and when I looked all the residents in the apartment building that were home had their faces to the windows and were waving madly at the sweethearts and shouting words of encouragement to them. It was the sweetest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Cars slowed down and honked their hellos and neighbors passing on the street also shouted their love. 

Balcony serenades are typically between lovers wooing each other and this was no different. We were wooing each other like long lost lovers reaching to be touched, to be held, and to be known. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” Jesus is our balcony serenade that woos us, reaches for us, and loves us into freedom. His mercy is the song that ascends and washes us in delight. We are all in need of assistance to the balcony, but once we get there, our eyes become fixed on Him and the mutual reaching toward begins the most beautiful love affair. And guess what, there is NO condemnation, blame, or attack during a balcony serenade, only wooing, beckoning, and love songs. For God so loves me and you that He sent His only Son to serenade us into His arms of mercy. So step out on the balcony and let Him sing you love songs and may that kind of love be the “spread” that woos others into a love affair with Jesus. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 ACTS 5:17-26

The high priest rose up and all his companions,
that is, the party of the Sadducees,
and, filled with jealousy,
laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail.
But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison,
led them out, and said,
“Go and take your place in the temple area,
and tell the people everything about this life.”
When they heard this,
they went to the temple early in the morning and taught.
When the high priest and his companions arrived,
they convened the Sanhedrin,
the full senate of the children of Israel,
and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison,
so they came back and reported,
“We found the jail securely locked
and the guards stationed outside the doors,
but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report,
they were at a loss about them,
as to what this would come to.
Then someone came in and reported to them,
“The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area
and are teaching the people.”
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them,
but without force,
because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

Responsorial Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R.    (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R.    The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R.    The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R.    The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R.    The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R.    Alleluia.

Alleluia JN 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so love the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 3:16-21

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.