Lectionary for Third Sunday of Easter.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth, wisdom and might, honour and glory and praise! Revelation 5:12
Collect. Let us pray (that we may submit ourselves to Christ’s direction): God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the everlasting covenant: make us perfect in every good thing to do your will, and work in us that which is well-pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading. Acts 9:1-6 [7-20]. The conversion of Saul is unique among the stories of conversion in the New Testament for it is the Risen Lord who confronts him on his journey. We know that Saul was a high ranking Jewish official as he was the witness to the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54): As a witness he was a man of authority and his zeal to protect the integrity of the Jewish faith drove him to ruthlessly pursue any Jews who converted to Christianity. On his journey Saul is confronted with the presence of the living Lord and the direction of his life is changed in a most profound way. The Lord God had a different purpose for Saul. Saul was a proud man but he was brought to his knees when confronted with the reality of the living Lord. However Saul is not the only person challenged in this incident! Ananias a disciple resident in Damascus was also presented with a change of direction for he also knew of Saul the persecutor. Ananias’s thinking had to be changed so that he would accept that God had called Saul into his service. Showing great courage Ananias baptises Saul and his sight is restored. The great figure of Saul is ministered too by a faithful disciple who then disappears from the pages of the New Testament, the record of his work and faithfulness is complete.
The final revealing of the resurrected Jesus is different from all the others but it allowed Saul to take his place as an Apostle who had truly seen that Jesus was both alive and was also reigning with God.(1 Corinth 5:8-9) From a New Testament perspective it was those who had seen the risen Jesus who were declared to be Apostles; those who were sent out with the message that Jesus lives and reigns as the fulfilment of the promised Messiah. It was this assurance that Jesus had come back to new life again that gave Saul and all the other Apostles the courage to continue to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God and the salvation that this kingdom afforded. In a world of oppression and the misuse of power, the message of Jesus as John in his Gospel said was, “A light shining in the darkness!” (John 1:5) God intervened into the life of Saul and it is from his letters written to the congregations under his care that have given us such a revealing insight into the theology of the early church.
Our world is different from Saul’s world though the cruelty and oppression of people still continues, but so does the Good News that Jesus lives and it is this truth that gives hope and courage to people everywhere. Saul, who in his work among the Gentiles chose to use the name Paul might not be the greatest Christian who ever lived, no one knows who that person is, but we do know that Paul considered himself to be the greatest sinner. However it was not his persecution of the church that brought him that title; it was his belief that he could achieve righteousness without the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His confrontation with the risen Christ changed that view and the major contributor to the writings of the New Testament was birthed.
Prayer. Gracious God, we thank you for calling faithful women and men to serve and declare the good news that Jesus is Lord of all. By your grace continue to bless and prosper all those whom you have gifted to take out the message of hope that comes to all who follow the way of Jesus Christ. May His name be a blessing to people everywhere. May his peace bring peace to all those who are troubled. May his forgiveness bring a unity between those who have been estranged; and may his love bring the true joy of living to all who believe. This we pray in his most holy name. Amen
Reading. John 21:1-19. John’s record of this final appearance in his Gospel is very interesting. It begins with seven of the disciples deciding to go fishing. We need to understand that this was not some recreational pastime but was a decision to return to a former life, for they were fishermen before being called by Jesus. Thus John sets the scene by suggesting that they are ready to put aside the events of the past. Even the most devoted disciple can sometimes feel discouraged and contemplate giving up! At daybreak Jesus appears and in the ensuing conversation the disciples turned fishermen realise it is “the Lord”. I have always imagined that Peter clothes himself and hurries towards Jesus, and that may be true and yet the Greek text says that Peter threw himself into the sea. One interpretation is that he is afraid and trying to get away. If you were confronted by a dear friend who only a few days previously you had seen put to death in a most brutal fashion, would rushing towards them be your first reaction? The hesitation described by John reminds us just how unique this meeting is.
The net is now full of fish and their fishing exploits have been miraculously rewarded through the Lord’s direct instructions. Because the net is now full they are obliged to draw the net to shore and join the risen Jesus. Peter brings some of the catch and they share breakfast but as John describes it, it is not a comfortable communal meal. Prior to the crucifixion the disciples had all fled; meeting Jesus anew would have raised many feelings of guilt as they remembered how they had responded. John makes it clear that the disciples are forgiven and fully accepted by the risen Jesus. In John’s account the natural world is being linked with the supernatural world. Theologically our space and God’s space are suddenly joined!
Peter had denied Jesus three times before he fled and now John recalls the three times that Jesus reinstates Peter into the mission for which he has been prepared. Peter’s love for Jesus is restored and Peter’s failure is swept away through the love and care of the Lord. During the earthly life of Jesus many things have happened since the first calling of the disciples but the command to “follow” remains the same only this time it is the Sovereign Lord who issues the call.
Prayer. When you call Lord, let us answer, let us not be deaf to your voice nor slow to respond to your invitation; rather help us to be willing to be equipped by your Holy Spirit and readied for service: For you have great plans for each of those whom you have called. So Lord we pray that each of us will be ready to play our part and serve you. Grant that your voice will ring in our ears and we will hear your cry and command. And Lord let our lives be an open window through which others will see what you have done to restore broken humanity. Amen
Collect. Living God, Christ is indeed worthy of all praise; he died, and is risen from the dead. Feed us with your grace, that in times of success or failure we may find life in following you for the sake of Jesus the Lord. Amen
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