Lectionary Reading Easter 6 17 May
Collect. God our Father, you have redeemed us in your Son and given to your church the Holy Spirit, the Counsellor, to dwell with us for ever. Strengthen us by your Spirit of truth, that we may show our love for Christ by keeping his commandments, and by always being ready to give an account of the hope that is in us. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Uniting in Worship)
Read. Acts 17:22-31 Paul noticed that the Athenians had a shrine to “an unknown god”, a shrine that had been erected in case there was a deity who had been neglected and so might be offended to the detriment of Athens. We may smile at that attitude yet there are many who today do not know the “unknown” God to whom Paul chose to refer, namely the God who is Father to our Lord Jesus Christ. The Athenians listened closely to what Paul had to say until he reached his essential point, that Jesus had been raised from the dead to live again. At that point in the disclosure many of them laughed at his message. To them it seemed unbelievable. Perhaps we have become so used to the story that we have failed to see just how radical this statement really is: indeed it was so radical that it changed the whole course of history and even today still causes great offence in many parts of the world. Behind the message that Jesus lives is a secondary message which Paul wished to deliver and that is that through the risen Jesus, God intends everyone to repent. In this case, to repent, means to change one’s mind about God and understand that this God is knowable but more importantly this God is the very God who gives life to each one of us and as such is always very close to us. Paul wanted to deliver a message of hope and many of the Athenians laughed and turned away. Despite that the essential message that Paul wanted to convey is still true, Jesus lives and God in his mercy wants people everywhere to come and find fulfilment of life in him.
Prayer. Holy Lord we thank you that the message of Jesus is still the same today and that the life of fulfilment still is there for us to enjoy. Help us to walk in obedience with Jesus that our lives may be lived according to your plan and purpose: May we be strengthened by the faith in his living presence among us. For the life you have given may we always give you thanks, spending each day wisely following your counsel. This we ask through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and always. Amen
Read. Psalm 66:8-20 The first half of this psalm recounts the history of Israel’s relationship with her God. It was a saga of promise, disobedience and restoration. This pattern was played out several times until the prophets finally concluded that the final redemption of the nation would be through one righteous figure, “the Servant of the Lord”. While noting the chequered history of the nation, the psalmist never gives up hope that God will see them through to the victorious ending. Halfway through the psalm the theme changes: The national overview is replaced with a much more personal first person account, I will come into your house, I will offer you burnt offerings. The psalmist is acknowledging not only the failure of the nation but also his own personal failings, yet still through all the failure comes the voice of confidence that God the mighty Lord will bring about not only national victory but also personal victory. At the end of the psalm the voice is strong and confident, “Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me. Psalm 66:20. God is faithful on both a national and a personal level and will always be there to guide to the every end.
Prayer. Ever faithful God, we thank you that you are always there for us and support us in every situation. Help us always to be open with you through all our experiences of life and ever remember that no matter where we go you are with us. Only you can be our true leader and guide and in you alone do we find the strength and gifting we need to fulfil your work here on earth. Help us Lord to admit our need of your Holy Spirit; gift us with sensitivity that we may be able to discern that holy presence; free us Lord to be ready to receive the empowerment we need. So, relying on your powerful presence we may live our lives in full confidence and obedience to you. Amen
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