Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for April 24, 2016
St. Peter’s Vision. Late 19th century stained-glass window, Church of St. Peter, Nottingham, England.
God’s love is for everyone, not just a few. This is the generous message that we hear throughout today’s readings. First we hear Peter explaining how a vision from God showed him that Christ’s message was not intended for his fellow Jewish believers alone, but for Gentiles as well. Sharing the gift of the Spirit through baptism without requiring conversion to Judaism must have seemed new and strange to these believers formed by tradition, but God’s message to Peter is clear, and God’s words overcome Peter’s prejudice.
Like a symphony with a resounding final coda, the Psalms end in a series of hymns of praise that shout out God’s glory with ringing exultation. In this Psalm we behold all creation praising God. All the angels and the universe, the sun and moon, stars and heavens, all praise the Lord, as do fire and hail, snow and fog; domestic animals, wild animals – even sea monsters! All humanity, too, praises the Lord, old and young people, kings and their subjects, men and women: God’s glory is universal, and God gives us all strength.
Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-6
In the remaining weeks of Eastertide we move on to the closing chapters of Revelation. Heaven and Earth have passed away in this apocalyptic vision. Everything has changed! Earth and sea, creation as we knew it, is no more. Now God is coming to earth to live with mortals, as Jesus Christ had done; all humanity will be God’s people, and God will be with them in a world where all things are new. God will wipe away tears and banish mourning, crying and pain; God will quench all thirst with the water of life. Death will be no more!
Gospel: John 13:31-35
Jesus and the apostles are gathered at the Last Supper. Judas has just sneaked out to go betray Jesus, and we know that Jesus’ passion and death lie just ahead; yet Jesus begins his last words to his friends by reminding them all to love. In loving one another, loving our neighbors, loving even our enemies, Jesus has given us clear instructions to love all of God’s people, and through this abundant, universal love to show the world how Jesus loves us all. “They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love … Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”