Second Sunday of Easter
Collect for today (taken from the Prayer Book)
God our Father, may we look forward with hope to our resurrection, for you have made us your sons and daughters, and restored the joy of our youth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
Read. 1 Peter 1:3-9 This is a good reading to have on the Sunday following the great festival of Easter for it continues to pick up the theme of new hope through the resurrection of Jesus. Most translations begin with “Blessed” although a few use the word Praise. I am sure you will be longing to know that the Greek word used here is eulogētos (pronounced “You–log-A-toss”)!! It is translated blessed but it has a meaning close to “adorable” or “to speak well of”. It carries the sense of one who is complete in every way to be and do good: and indeed that is the emphasis of this passage. The great mercy of God has acted and this action has given to us a hope that will transcend every situation in life and also carry us through into the life to come. This hope springs from the resurrection of Jesus who as we celebrated last Sunday has come through death and into a new life, again by the mercy of God. Through the resurrected life of Jesus’ we too have this ‘new life’ which is given to us.
Many of us are living a very limited life at the moment; some of us are isolated because of age or we are at risk, others are working from home and only going out when on essential business: in some way all of us are affected. The things we normally do are not available so our lives have a feeling of being limited. This means that most of us are longing for this new thing that will come once the virus has passed. We will not be quite the same again as this experience will have changed us, for in a very real way we have been shown how dependant we are one other, but also that we are not separate nations getting on with our separate lives, we are all inter-connected: above all we have been shown that there are many things in life we cannot control; and yet because of the Easter message we still have hope. That is what our reading is saying. No matter what happens and no matter how vulnerable or inadequate we are our future, our inheritance is secure. Out of his mercy we belong to God and nothing can take away the future that is ours. We may be restricted for the moment and experience things which cause us disquiet but God will see us through. That is the hope of the moment it is also the ongoing hope that every Christian has, because of the adorable God whom we worship.
Prayer: Lord Jesus we bring our prayer concerns to you. We pray for our whole world as it works to withstand the effects of the pandemic which is affecting us. We pray for the leaders of the nations that they may have both wisdom and compassion. We pray for those who are isolated from family and loved ones, those who are alone and those who find their circumstances hard to bear. Give them courage to face each day and strength to endure. We pray for those who are helping to comfort those affected by the virus, for doctors and nursing staff, those who have to keep the peace, those who have to attend to the dying. We pray for funeral staff overwhelmed by the volume of work. We pray for those who grieve and mourn that they may all be upheld in your loving arms and protected and strengthened. We pray for those who face severe hardship because of the shut-down; the unemployed, those who cannot pay their rent or mortgage, those who having to deal with a variety of government agencies. May they find a way forward that will bring them hope. And we pray for those who are experiencing situations which are unjust because of the pandemic. May your love and peace touch hearts and lives, bringing a renewal of hope. We also pray for those who in so many ways are bringing comfort and a sense of belonging by making contact through technology, or phone calls or even letter writing and we thank you for them. Gather our prayers together Lord and grant that our whole world may join hands and in unity and with you face together whatever the future holds. We ask in Jesus Name. Amen.
Read John 20:19-31. The appearance of Jesus brings with it the promised Holy Spirit. Immediately on receiving the Holy Spirit the command to begin ministry comes, using the power the Spirit supplies: Who would be bold enough to forgive or retain without God’s wisdom! From the moment Jesus appears the task of taking the message of salvation to a waiting world begins.
John’s story quickly moves on to Thomas, often called the doubter but possibly that is a harsh judgement. (c/f John 11;7-16) Before we label Thomas we need to remember that none of the disciples expected Jesus to return from death. In the ancient world as in ours, death was pretty final. Indeed death held Jesus for three days but then surprisingly, alarmingly, he returned to a new life; Jesus was resurrected: As the famous hymn says, “Death of deaths, and hells destruction”.
Something beyond comprehension had happened. Perhaps John has a significant point to make; one only recognises that Jesus lives through revelation. Knowing that Jesus lives is not head knowledge but heart knowledge. “Unless I see”, but notice even with the invitation to touch, Thomas does not stretch out his hand but simply believes.
Still there is a blessing for those who believe without seeing, and yet, we all believe because Jesus has revealed himself to us. However in the concluding verses we note that John has written his record of Jesus’ ministry in order to encourage us all to believe in the Lordship of Jesus over sin and death. The written word has a powerful influence. Belief in Jesus can come to us in many different ways; some come to belief through reading and prayer, others through worship, still others through adverse situations. It can also be through meeting people, a chance conversation, an amazing sunrise, or an answer to prayer; in good times and is bad, faith can emerge. No matter which pathway unlocks the reception of faith it is always a gift from God.
Prayer. Jesus, you are the Lord and giver of all that is good. It is to you we turn to find life in all its fullness. Look graciously on us as we pray that we may live our life honouring you, thankful for the blessings that come from your hand. On you we cast all our cares and find the solace we need. Only in you Lord, do we find the rest and peace which strengthens us for true discipleship. So we thank you and we bless you for you alone give to us the promise of eternal life and a place in your glorious future. All praise to you, Lord most high. Amen
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