First Reading: Acts 5:27-32

Jesus has died and Christ has risen, but tension continues between the Christ-followers and the Temple establishment.

The apostles have been carrying on the work of Jesus. They teach, they preach, and they heal, and all the excitement got the authorities worried that this uproar could cause trouble with the occupying Roman forces. They locked Peter and the apostles in jail, only to have an angel set them free. Now, in Sunday’s reading, they scold them. But the apostles push back, saying that they have a higher mission: God has given them the Holy Spirit and called them to spread the Word, a mission that trumps human authority.

Psalm: Psalm 118:14-29

Do some of these words sound familiar? Sunday we hear again some of the same verses as we sang in Easter Sunday’s psalm, and on Palm Sunday, too! This is no coincidence, as these words are meaningful as we remember the Resurrection: Once again we promise to practice justice in our lives, to serve God, our neighbor, the poor and the stranger, seeking through righteousness to enter the glory of God. Then, in the verses chosen for Sunday’s portion of the Psalm, we go on to address God directly, giving thanks for God’s abundant love, our lives and our salvation.

Alternate Psalm: Psalm 150

We chant, sing or read a Psalm just about every time we gather to worship. The 150 Psalms cover a range of emotions, from pleas for help to calls for God’s blessing to anguished songs of lamentation. Psalms beg forgiveness, express hope, even call down God’s wrath. But the most joyful Psalms sing God’s praise, and Psalm 150, the hymn of joy that ends the book, musters a virtual orchestra to proclaim God’s glory with flutes and harp, strings and cymbals. Sing out loud as Eastertide and the celebration of the resurrection goes on.

Second Reading: Revelation 1:4-8

Many Christians find Revelation hard to understand, even weird and scary, with its visions of lakes of fire, dragons, horsemen riding through rivers of blood … the number of the Beast! Revelation was written in the apocalyptic genre, a form of First Century sci-fi and fantasy that used symbolic language and colorful metaphors to reassure the early Christians in seven persecuted cities in Asia Minor that the Reign of Christ was still to come and would set them free. Christ is “the ruler of the kings of the earth,” it promises, and knowing readers understood that Christ would eventually dominate even the Emperor of Rome.

Gospel: John 20:19-31

In John’s version of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene alone saw the risen Christ. But after she ran back to tell the other disciples, it appears that they did not react immediately with celebration. Rather, as Sunday’s Gospel begins, they have locked themselves securely indoors, apparently afraid that the Jewish leaders who had supported Pilate when he condemned Jesus were trying to find them. Suddenly Jesus appears in the locked room with them! He shows them his wounds and offers them peace and breathes the power of the Holy Spirit into them, and their fear turns into joy. Thomas, who wasn’t with the apostles that night, remains doubtful. He insists on proof before he will believe. But Thomas, too, turns from doubt to belief when he sees Jesus.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for April 28, 2019

First Reading: Acts 5:27-32

Jesus has died and Christ has risen, but tension continues between Christ-followers and the Temple establishment. We’ll be hearing passages from the Acts of the Apostles as our first readings during Eastertide.

In Sunday’s reading we learn that apostles have continued teaching, preaching and healing in Jesus’ way, and all this uproar has the authorities worried that these efforts is going to bring trouble. In the verses before these, we read that they locked Peter and the apostles in jail, but an angel set them free. Now the authorities try persuasion instead, but the apostles, recognizing a higher mission, push back: God has called them to spread the Word, and that mission trumps any human authority.

Psalm: Psalm 118:14-29

If you think parts of this Psalm seem strangely familiar, there’s a reason for that: Overlapping portions of Psalm 118 were also included in the readings for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Again we sing the central covenant of the Old Testament that Jesus also taught, promising to practice justice in our lives; to serve God, our neighbor, the poor and the stranger, seeking through righteousness to enter the glory of God. Then in today’s verses we go on to address God directly, giving thanks for God’s abundant love, our lives and our salvation. “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Alternate Psalm: Psalm 150

Throughout the year, in Sunday liturgy and daily prayer, we turn to the Psalms almost every time we gather to worship. Some Psalms cry out in lamentation; some ask God’s blessing. Psalms beg forgiveness and express hope; a few even call down God’s wrath. The most joyful Psalms sing God’s praise. Psalm 150, the last Psalm, brings the book to a ringing climax as we sing out God’s glory with flutes and harp, strings and praise and plenty of loud, clanging cymbals. We sing out loud as we celebrate the resurrection during Eastertide.

Second Reading: Revelation 1:4-8

Despite the commercial success of the popular “Left Behind” stories and other interpretations of Revelation as scary prophecy for modern times, Revelation was never meant for our modern ears. In its time, the late first century, it was addressed to the Christians of seven cities in Asia Minor, now western Turkey, that faced oppression by Roman power. The letter, written in the apocalyptic genre, a sort of First Century sci-fi and fantasy, used symbolic language and colorful metaphors to reassure these early Christians that the Reign of Christ was still to come and would set them free. Christ is “the ruler of the kings of the earth,” it promises, holding up that glowing hope that Christ would eventually dominate even the Emperor of Rome.

Gospel: John 20:19-31

In John’s version of the resurrection, when Mary Magdalene alone saw the risen Christ, she ran back to tell the other disciples. It appears that they did not react immediately with celebration, though, but – as Sunday’s Gospel begins – they gathered and locked all the doors, apparently fearful that the Jewish leaders who had worked with Pilate to condemn Jesus were trying to find them. But then Jesus appears in the locked room with them, shows them his wounds and offers them peace and breathes the power of the Holy Spirit into them, and their fear turns into joy. Thomas, who wasn’t with the apostles that night, was doubtful, insisting on proof before he would believe. But Thomas, too, turns from doubt to belief when he sees Jesus.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for April 3, 2016

Acts 5:27-32

Jesus has died, Christ has risen! Jesus’ friends, filled with the Holy Spirit, are leading a movement. The apostles teach, they preach, and they perform miraculous healings, just as Jesus had done. The authorities, fearful that all this might attract unwanted Roman attention, aren’t any happier about this than they had been with Jesus. The high priest summons Peter and others for questioning, but Peter stands strong: God’s word, through Jesus – the one whom they had killed but who lives on at God’s right hand – overpowers mere human authority.

Psalm 150

We chant, sing or read a Psalm just about every time we gather to worship. The 150 Psalms cover a range of emotions, from pleas for help to calls for God’s blessing to anguished songs of lamentation. Psalms beg forgiveness, express hope, even call down God’s wrath. But the most joyful Psalms sing God’s praise, and Psalm 150, the hymn of joy that ends the book, musters a virtual orchestra to proclaim God’s glory with flutes and harp, strings and cymbals. Sing out loud as we celebrate the resurrection today.

Psalm 118:14-29

A week after Easter, we repeat much of last Sunday’s Psalm, underscoring its theme of joyful thanksgiving to God who protects us, brings us victory and becomes our salvation. Today we continue through the final verses, which turn from talking about God’s goodness to address God with loud hosannas, giving thanks for God’s favor and mercy. “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord,” we sing, in words that we will repeat when we sing the Sanctus in the Great Thanksgiving.

Second Reading: Revelation 1:4-8

Many Christians find Revelation hard to understand, even weird and scary, with its visions of lakes of fire, dragons, horsemen riding through rivers of blood … the number of the Beast! Today’s opening verses, however, give only a hint of the allegorical imagery to come. Originally addressed to the persecuted Christians of seven cities in what is now Turkey, it assures them that all are loved by Christ, “the ruler of the kings of the earth,” who will come and set us free.

Gospel: John 20:19-31

It’s easy to mock Thomas with the nickname, “Doubting Thomas,” that has stuck to him for 2,000 years. But remember that the other apostles doubted the women, too, when they came running back to report that Jesus had risen. Look at Thomas’ perspective: All his friends got to see Jesus and rejoice as he gave them the power of the Holy Spirit and empowered them to forgive sins. We don’t know why Thomas wasn’t there, but wouldn’t you be a little jealous and cranky, too, if you had missed out? Take note too that Jesus wasn’t angry with Thomas. Doubters or no, we all have life in Jesus’ name.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, April 7, 2013.

First Reading: Acts 5:27-32
Jesus has died, Christ has risen, and tension continues between the Christ-followers and the Temple establishment. The apostles are carrying on for Jesus, teaching, preaching and healing, and all the excitement has the authorities worried. All this uproar is going to bring trouble. They locked Peter and the apostles in jail, but an angel set them free. Now they try to persuade, but the apostles have a higher mission. God has called them to spread the Word, and that mission trumps any human authority.

Psalm: Psalm 118:14-29
Do some of these words sound familiar? Today we hear again some of the same verses as we sang in Easter Sunday’s psalm. Again we promise to practice justice in our lives, to serve God, our neighbor, the poor and the stranger, seeking through righteousness to enter the glory of God. Then in today’s verses we go on to address God directly, giving thanks for God’s abundant love, our lives and our salvation.

Alternate Psalm: Psalm 150
Throughout the year, in Sunday liturgy and daily prayer, we turn to the Psalms every time we gather to worship. Some Psalms cry out in lamentation; some ask God’s blessing. Psalms beg forgiveness and express hope; a few even call down God’s wrath. The most joyful Psalms sing God’s praise. Psalm 150, the last in the book, rings out God’s glory with flutes and harp, strings and praise and plenty of loud, clanging cymbals. Sing out loud as we celebrate the resurrection today.

Second Reading: Revelation 1:4-8
Despite the popular “Left Behind” stories, Revelation, a sort of First Century sci-fi and fantasy, wasn’t really written for our modern ears. In its time it was addressed to the Christians of seven cities in what is now Turkey – churches oppressed by Roman power – reassuring them in symbolic language that the Reign of Christ will come and set them free. Christ is “the ruler of the kings of the earth,” it promises, and knowing readers understood that Christ would eventually dominate even the Emperor of Rome.

Gospel: John 20:19-31
Thomas got a reputation as a doubter because he had to see Jesus before he could accept that Christ was risen. But let’s not be too quick to judge Thomas. Remember the Easter Gospel of Luke, when none of the apostles believed the women who came running back from the empty tomb to tell them that Christ was alive. Today’s message is not about doubt but fear: Don’t stay locked up indoors. With the power of the Holy Spirit, spread the word of Jesus in the world!