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Lectionary Notes
- 5th Sunday of Easter
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sermon or sermon for this text)
Readings for 5th
Sunday of Easter, 4/20/08:
Acts 7:55-60, Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John
14:1-14
Acts 7:55-60:
- The martyrdom of Stephen - for
what would you be willing to be put to death? Some kinds of martyrdom miss the
mark, I think. Sometimes our lives are gifts not to be given in this way. But
still, most of us, I think, would not be easily moved, even by our faith, to
give our lives. Perhaps for our loved ones - that seems the most likely to
inspire giving our own lives. The "greater love" of which Jesus speaks.
- "they covered their ears" - do
you sometimes cover your ears, literally or figuratively, to God's voice?
God's messengers?
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16:
- Rescue, refuge, fortress, save, rock, strong. This is a
plea for God's protection.
- Make sure to read the
un-included verses of this Psalm, at least for yourself.
- "My times are in your hand."
Giving God our times. That simply, that completely.
- "Let your face shine upon your
servant." What does it feel like to have God's face shining on you? As a
write, it is a gorgeous sunny day, where my cats are luxuriating in the sun
coming through the windows. God's face shining on us must be something like
that!
1 Peter 2:2-10:
- "like newborn infants . . . so
that you may grow into salvation." That's almost Wesleyan in sentiment, isn't
it? We grow into salvation - a process, not a single one-time event.
- "if indeed you have tasted that
the Lord is good." (see Psalm 34)
- The author also references Psalm
118 - the "chief cornerstone" passage.
- "once you were not a people, but
now you are God's people." This is part of the Great Thanksgiving liturgy in
the UMC Book of Worship for the Season of Easter, and it always grabs my
attention. Our identity is as God's people. We share in the "chosen" identity
that had shaped the people of the Jewish faith. We are chosen by God.
John 14:1-14:
-
"I am the way, the truth, and the life."
This is one of those statements of Jesus that always makes me tense, because so
often this verse is used to exclude others, to show that since Jesus is "the
way" that there must be no other way to God. People argue that if there was more
than one way, Jesus would have said, "I am a way." Personally, I think
that's putting too much emphasis on the definite or indefinite articles from
Jesus' Aramaic to Greek to English. But think of it this way, maybe: Jesus is
more concerned about saying who he is than who others are not.
-
This passage is one, in parts, that I
frequently use at funerals, guided by the Book of Worship. It seems to give
comfort, knowing that we're expected. Like the calm of knowing you already have
reservations made at a hotel, only better.
-
"Show us the
Father, and we will be satisfied." "Have I been with you all this time, and you
still do not know me?" I like this exchange between Philip (a highly
under-played apostle) and Jesus. "We will be satisfied." What would it take from
God for you to be satisfied? It seems we humans always need one more proof, one
more sign, one more prayer answered as we want it answered. Jesus says, "don't
you get it? I'm all you need to be satisfied." Do we get it?
Pastor’s Note: (I use the Greek-English
Lexicon from Liddell and Scott, the “little Liddell”
and the Metzger et. al Greek New Testament in my translation work.)
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