Lectionary for Easter 6
You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit,fruit that will last. John 15:16
Reading. Acts 10:44-48. As we approach the season of Pentecost this section of the book of Acts reminds us how far reaching was the message of God’s Salvation. The chapter begins with a vision that came to Cornelius a gentile centurion living is Caesarea which was a harbour town built by Herod the Great. Cornelius is instructed to send for Peter who was preaching in Joppa, another harbour town further along the coast. Peter, through a vision, is challenged to receive the message from Cornelius. To preach to a gentile was very much against Peter’s inclinations. Therefore this short passage recorded by Luke has great significance both for the early church and for us. Peter was tasked with proclaiming the gospel to non Jews. More importantly as the gentiles accepted the teaching Peter was presenting, the Holy Spirit came upon the converts and gave them all the gifts and signs that had come upon the Jews when they first believed in the salvation that Jesus had won. This crossing of inter-racial boundaries was hugely important as a statement that the good news was available to all people. After the Holy Spirit had shown God’s acceptance, Peter immediately baptises the new Christians. Luke is reminding his readers that the church is growing rapidly, but more than that, the church is crossing boundaries that would have been unheard of in the ancient world. For us, we are used to accepting people as Christians from different races. Maybe the message is to look again at our own prejudices and ask ourselves if they would stand up to the scrutiny of God. Perhaps the key is to be found in the statement that Peter heard in his vision; “The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane”” Acts 10:15. Through the Holy Spirit God is preparing a true people of God and everyone who accepts him is included. Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Joel 2:28 NRSV.
Prayer. Holy Lord, we thank you for the many blessings that you pour out upon your people. We thank you for the grace that surrounds us day by day. New every morning is your love for all your people, Great is your faithfulness. Guide and protect us as we seek to obey your will for us. By your grace you have accepted us in Jesus’ Name; may we be blessed through the presence of your Holy Spirit to look forward with hope to the coming of our Lord in power and glory. Grant us the courage to persevere until the end when the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. Amen
Reading. John 15:9-17 To love one another is a command that is key to the Christian life. In the previous few verses John has reminded us that there are two kinds of people, those in the vine and those who are not in the vine. Those who are in the vine are to bear “much fruit”. In order to do this we are to love as Jesus himself loved. Jesus loves us even when we do not deserve that love and so we are to love even those who do not deserve to be loved! Even as I write that sentence I recognise that there is great arrogance in presuming that there are people who do not deserve to be loved for surely that is the point. When dealing with people who are in the vine my opinion does not count, it is insignificant. To love as God loves is to see everyone as worthy of being loved. No ifs, no buts! In order to love as we are commanded a number of things need to be in place. Firstly we need to be in the vine. Our lives need to have been changed, as the psalmist pleaded,” Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me” Psalm 51:10. NRSV. Then we need to recognise how far reaching the forgiveness is that God has afforded each of us. “Come now, let us argue it out, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18. NRSV. Finally we need to recognise that everyone in the vine has been offered that forgiving grace and is therefore equal with us in relationship to God: Perhaps more than ever before we live in a world which is looking for a truly loving community. A loving community is a welcoming community and a welcoming community has a great attraction. It is by loving each other that we bear much fruit.
Jesus said: ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will bear witness for me to the ends of the earth.’ Acts 1:8
Prayer. Blessed are you the God of all creation, by your grace you have called us into fellowship with one another in your church. Forgive us for our arrogance and our disunity. Heal those divisions which continue to hold us apart. Draw us closer to yourself and remind us again and again of the great sacrifice that has healed each division. We praise you for bringing us unity and freedom from sin. Forgive us when we turn aside and are disobedient to your call on us to love one another, even as you have loved us. Once more by your grace may we offer ourselves in humble surrender to your command and as faithful disciples honour you with our obedience. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Collect. Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you riches beyond imagination. Pour into our hearts such love toward you, that we, loving you above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Jesus, Lord and friend, you have given us the gift of a new commandment; and as you gave yourself for us, you fulfilled it. Help us so to love one another, that your life may grow among us now and for ever. Amen.
We are now in the time when the church will celebrate Ascension.
Reading. Acts 1:1-11. This opening passage from Luke’s story of the early church reminds us that after forty days of teaching Jesus’ ascension took place. The creed reminds us that, “He ascended into heaven” Even as we say that phrase we need to remember that the word “heaven”, did not have the same meaning the word has for us today. For the early church the word heaven was the place where God was seated. So our creed is reminding us that Jesus ascended to be with God. Luke’s description is that a cloud hid Jesus from their sight. It was not a cloud that lifted him up, the cloud simply hid him from sight. The Ascension is the great climax to the Easter story for it places Jesus in the position of power, at God’s right hand. In that place of power Jesus is now King of kings and Lord of lords. In his crucifixion he was charged with presuming to be king of the Jews by the High Priests and Pontius Pilate. Through his resurrection Jesus is vindicated as being the King that God ordained. Now seated with God he holds the reins of power and will continue to reign until all God’s enemies are subdued and the Day of the Lord will come. “The LORD says to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” Psalm 110:1. NRSV. Despite the brokenness of our world we live in hope looking forward to that time when the reign of Jesus will once again be revealed
Prayer. Let us pray. (to our Father who has raised us to new life in Christ): Eternal Father, reaching from end to end of the universe and ordering all things with your mighty arm: for you, time is the unfolding of truth that already is, the enveiling of beauty that is yet to be. Your Son has saved us in history by rising from the dead, so that, transcending time, he might free us from death. May his presence among us lead to the vision of unlimited truth and unfold the beauty of your love; through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Uniting in Worship)
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