Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for April 11, 2021

First Reading: Acts 4:32-35

Christ is risen, and we move forward with joy into the 50 days of Eastertide.

Doubting Thomas (1613-1615), oil painting on panel by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp, Belgium. (Click image to enlarge.)

Throughout this time, our First Readings will be taken from the Acts of the Apostles, the Evangelist Luke’s story of the life of the early church. In his Gospel, Luke consistently emphasizes Jesus’ command to shun riches and to serve the poor, the weak and the oppressed. It should be no surprise, then, that in Acts Luke presents the practice of sharing all possessions and caring for the poor as the customary lifestyle of the apostles. This practice would be a hard sell in 21st century politics, which might give us food for thought as we ponder Jesus’ promise of good news to the poor.

Psalm: Psalm 133

Sounding a theme that resonates with the sharing lifestyle that Luke presents in the early church, the Psalmist celebrates the joy of a community that lives in unity like brothers and sisters. The earthy image of anointing oil running down Aaron’s head, beard and robe may sound odd to our modern ears. But, also like the Gospel accounts of the woman anointing Jesus with expensive ointment – it reminds us that the most desirable luxuries are not to be hoarded but abundantly shared.

Second Reading: 1 John 1:1-2:2

Our second readings during Eastertide will take us through the First Letter of John. This letter was almost certainly not written by John the Evangelist. Its emphasis on love, and on Jesus as the Word and the Light, is consistent with the style of John’s Gospel, and hints that it may have come later on from the same early Christian community. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,” Sunday’s verses tell us, a phrase that the Book of Common Prayer adopts as a Lenten opening sentence for Morning Prayer. When we confess our sins, it continues, God will forgive us and restore our righteousness through Christ.

Gospel: John 20:19-31

Jesus has died. Christ has risen! And now Jesus begins appearing to the disciples, often in mysterious ways that defy imagining. The doors are locked, the apostles are terrified; and suddenly Jesus is there with them in the locked room, and fear is transformed to joy. Thomas, who missed Jesus’ first appearance, remains doubtful, and for this he is remembered forever as “Doubting Thomas.” Who wouldn’t doubt, though? Wouldn’t you? But Jesus surely understands. And Thomas, too, with all the rest, goes on to testify that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that we all have life in his name.