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Lectionary
Notes - Fifth Sunday of Easter
(view
sermon
or sermon
for this text)
Readings
for 5th Sunday of Easter, 5/6/07:
Acts 11:1-18, Psalm 148, Revelation
21:1-6, John 13:31-35
Acts 11:1-18:
- As a long-time
vegetarian, this is one of those passages I often has quoted at me as reason
why it's ok, Bible-approved to eat meat. Makes me laugh in frustration. We
read, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." Indeed,
I agree with that - but what humans have made unclean? Those things God asks
us to be careful in how we use.
- But basically,
I like this passage. It's about Peter getting over himself. For as much as
I like to rag on Paul for his constant boasting, I love him for his vision
that the Jesus message wasn't just for Jews, but for all. Peter's vision is
always limited - he always seems to need to confine the mission, have rules,
tests, for who hears it. But here, he gets it: "who was I that I could
hinder God?"
- As I write this,
it is a day before
General Conference
begins for the
United Methodist Church. Again,
there will be pain and division as homosexuality is debated, dissected, etc.
Hear Peter's epiphany: He comes across believers who share in the baptism
of the Holy Spirit with him. His conclusion: "If then God gave them the
same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was
I that I could hinder God?" I pray that we do not continue to attempt
to hinder God and God's call on our people.
Psalm 148:
- I like Psalms
that are simple and clear in their focus: Praise God, everything and everyone.
It is a reminder to me, to us, in our worship preparations, to remember what
is our focus: Praise God, everything and everyone. Sometimes we try so hard
for something fantastic that we lose focus on why we put together such wonderful
music, beautiful liturgies, and carefully crafted sermons. Praise God!
- Psalms like this
that include things like: sun, moon, starts, mountains, fire, hair, hills,
trees, cattle, birds, young, old, men, women, rules, snow, and wind, all in
one litany remind us of our relationship with ALL creation. A little stewardship
of the earth, please? If the psalm says all creation praises God, we do a
good job of putting a stop to the praise when we destroy the creation...
Revelation 21:1-6
- "See, the
home of God is among mortals." Revelation is certainly an interesting
book of the Bible, and I never know quite how to take it. But this right here
- this is one of my favorite verses. After all, it is the good news that Jesus
was trying to communicate, is it not? Jesus' gospel was this: "The kingdom
of God is at hand." God's reign is here. Right. Now. So John of Patmos
says it well - the home of God is with the people. That is good news.
- This passage is
often used at funerals. It's funny these words of comfort come from a book
that causes fear and anxiety in so many readers when they hear the 'prophecies'
of the 'end times' that they discern in earlier chapters. But I think this
passage really is core to the whole book - God with the people. Death and
mourning and tears done. Alpha, and Omega, Beginning and End.
John 13:31-35:
- Glory, glory,
glory. From the Greek root dokeo^, meaning extol, splendor, magnify,
and the like.
- "Where I
am going, you cannot come." The Ascension, impending. But interesting
words. Where can we go that Jesus goes? He wants us to follow him in most
of the places he goes. Can we? Should we? Will we?
- New commandment:
Love one another. That's how people will know you are followers of Jesus.
One of my favorite
'camp' songs
was always "And They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love", from
this text. I'm afraid that my life doesn't always confirm that. I think about
ends and means. The end: our Christian identity is visible. The means: love.
In this case, Jesus suggests we can't get the end we desire, to be known as
disciples, except by the means of loving as he has loved. And how has he loved?
That's an easy one!
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.)
Lectionary
Notes are from the Lectionary Chat Group Bible Study of
St.
Paul's UMC, Oneida, NY, Rev. Beth Quick.
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