Illuminations on the Lectionary readings for May 15, 2022 (Easter 5C)

First Reading: Acts 11:1-18

You have probably noticed by now that our first readings during Eastertide have turned to the Acts of the Apostles. Acts tells the story of the early church, written by the evangelist known as Luke as a sort of continuation of his Gospel after the death of Jesus and the resurrection of Christ.

Sunday’s Acts passage marks a critical turning point in its narrative, as Peter and the apostles recognize that the message of Jesus was not intended only for their faith, Judaism, but for all humankind. We’ll hear echoes of this generous message reverberating through Sunday’s readings.

Psalm: Psalm 148

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 to the closing chapters of Revelation. Heaven and Earth have passed away in this apocalyptic vision. Everything has changed! Earth and sea and all 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

Sunday’s Gospel takes us back in time after we have celebrated the crucifixion and resurrection. In this passage we remember Jesus and the apostles as they gathered for the Last Supper. Judas has just sneaked out to go betray Jesus, so 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 provides clear instructions to love all of God’s people, and through this abundant, universal love to show the world how Jesus loves us all.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for May 19, 2019

First Reading: Acts 11:1-18

God’s love is for everyone, not just a few: This generous message resonates through today’s readings.

In our first reading we hear Peter explaining to his fellow Jewish Christians that a vision from God had made clear to him that Christ’s message was not intended just for them but for Gentiles as well. The idea that the gift of the Spirit could be shared with Gentiles through baptism without requiring them first to convert to Judaism must have seemed new and strange to them all, but God’s message to Peter was unambiguous: Go and baptize the Roman centurion Cornelius and his whole family. And so he did.

Psalm: Psalm 148

This is one of the last songs in the Book of Psalms, a concluding trio that rings out thunderous praise for the glory of God. It echoes the message from Acts (and also presages the Song of the Three Young Men in Daniel, Canticle 16) in glorious harmony: All God’s host stands up in joyous chorus, praising God from the heights and heavens. Sun and moon and shining stars praise God. Sea monsters and crawling things, kings and rulers, youngsters and old folks all praise God together, praising and exalting God forever!

Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-6

We read parts of the closing chapters of Revelation in the final weeks of Eastertide. In this apocalyptic vision, Heaven and Earth and all that is old have passed away, and everything is new! Earth and sea, all creation as we knew it, is no more. Reversing the idea that the souls of humans will rise to a lofty Heaven, we see God coming down from Heaven to Earth instead in a New Jerusalem, God coming to earth to live with mortals as Jesus Christ had done. In verses often read during the remembrance of a loved one’s life, we hear that God will wipe away tears and banish mourning, crying and pain; God will quench all thirst with the water of life, and death will be no more!

Gospel: John 13:31-35

“They’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love … Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” The words of this beloved hymn reflect the words of Jesus in Sunday’s Gospel. Jesus and the apostles are together at the last supper. In a tense moment, just after Judas has sneaked out to betray him, Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment in a farewell message: “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” Knowing that he is about to die a gruesome death on a cross, Jesus sets out his commandment to live as he would live, loving one another and loving everyone.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for April 24, 2016

First Reading: Acts 11:1-18

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.

Psalm 148

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.”

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, April 28, 2013.

First Reading: Acts 11:1-18
Through Eastertide our First Readings, which usually offer us verses from the Old Testament, turn instead to the Acts of the Apostles, the story of the early church attributed to the evangelist Luke. In today’s reading we see a critical turning point, when Peter and the apostles realize that the message of Jesus was not intended only for their faith, Judaism, but for all humankind. God chooses us all!

Psalm: Psalm 148
This is one of the last five songs in the Book of Psalms, a concluding trio that rings out thunderous praise for the glory of God. It echoes the message of Acts in glorious harmony: All God’s host stands up in praiseful chorus, praising God from the heights and heavens, sun and moon and shining stars. Sea monsters and crawling things, kings and rulers, youngsters and old folks. We join our voices, too, as we chant this Psalm of praise today.

Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-6
The Easter readings offer us another change of pace, turning to Revelation, a book that many nowadays find more than a little strange. We shouldn’t try to find modern predictions in these ancient lines, but the underlying idea speaks to all ages: Jesus lived among us as Son of God. God will wipe away our tears and will conquer mourning, pain and death. God comes to us. God makes all things new.

Gospel: John 13:31-35
“And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love … Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” This beloved hymn echoes today’s Gospel, when Jesus at his last supper – just after Judas had sneaked out to betray him – gives his disciples a new commandment: “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” Knowing that he is about to die a horrible, painful death on the cross, Jesus calls his disciples – and us, too – to love one another, and to love everyone, living as Jesus would have us live.