Lectionary for Second Sunday Easter
All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
Collect. Let us pray (that Christ will give us a share in his glory): 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.
Reading. Acts 2:14a, 22-32. The lectionary passage for today emphasises that Peter is speaking to Israelites. Peter begins by reminding them that he and many of his listeners have witnessed the events which lead up to the crucifixion. This was despite the common understanding that Jesus was truly a man of God because of the ministry he had conducted. Despite this understanding the people colluded with the religious authorities and handed Jesus over to those who were “outside the law”. In other words Jesus was handed over to those who did not know or understand the ways of the Lord God of Israel. Despite this Peter reminds them that all this action was fully understood by God for it was part of God’s definitive plan for Jesus. However God’s plan still had one more action to follow the crucifixion and God raised him from the finality of death, freeing him to live again. Peter connects this godly event with the well established promise that one of David’s descendants would sit on the throne of Israel for ever. Eternally!
The prophetic voice that one would come who would rescue God’s People was critical to the understanding they had with God and with each other. It was on this promise that they built the hope that led them on into the future believing that God was securing their ultimate destiny. The Jews came from a fascination for ancestry for they all traced their origin from one human father, Abraham. Thus in this sermon Peter is saying that Jesus was one of us, he was family but more than that he was also the one whom God had promised. Though Jesus had died, God’s promised victory through him could not be denied and so Jesus lives and still is ready to lead God’s people on to freedom.
Prayer. We offer our grateful thanks to you again and again, O Lord. We never cease to marvel at your patience and kindness as we stumble along life’s way. Today we give you thanks for the Christ whose love is believable because it is founded on the truth of your faithfulness. It is the Risen Jesus who stands with us as we experience the struggles, issues and situations of life which we face. It is Jesus who gives us the courage and the strength to endure and to remain faithful. Thanks to you, O God, for the wonder of your grace. May we continue to be bold and strong for you. Amen.
Reading. John 20:19-31. Often as we read this passage our attention turns to Thomas but we know that John’s focus is always on Jesus. Suffice it to say that in Jesus Thomas’s need to know is fulfilled and then swept aside as the realisation of the Lordship of Jesus dawns on him. This is as John intends. Thomas was only verbalising the fear that all the disciples were experiencing as they gathered together in a locked house. Through the isolation that fear had produced Jesus comes and joins them. The first thing that Jesus offers to them is his peace. In Jesus there is a deep and lasting peace as he had promised in a previous teaching session. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.(John 14:27) As his peace flows over them the disciples rejoice for in that peace they know that this is the Lord and it is then that Jesus commissions them to take out the same message that God had given to Jesus. The message is that God’s Kingdom was breaking in through the Lord Jesus. In order to accomplish the task set before them by Jesus they would need the power and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Taking out the true message of Jesus is not a human work but is always the work of the Spirit.
It is after the commissioning that John describes the struggle that Thomas has with the resurrection of Jesus for resurrection is always a supernatural event that only Jesus can reveal. John is reminding his readers that in order to know the resurrection one must also know Jesus for when you know Jesus you know that resurrection is true and can be trusted. As Jesus’ peace comes to Thomas he no longer wants to put is fingers in the nail-holes but utters the statement of worship, “My Lord and my God”. John places Thomas in the position that all who hear his gospel would have been in, namely believing without physically seeing the Risen Jesus. John then emphasizes the fulfilment that believing brings. Those who continue to believe that Jesus is the Lord have the peace and joy of life eternally in the presence of Jesus the Risen Lord.
Prayer. Almighty God, we give our heartfelt thanks that our Lord Jesus Christ your Son has overcome death and opened for us the promised gift of everlasting life. We thank you for he peace and assurance his victory brings to all who believe. We continue to live in the hope that even in death you make all things new; now by his power we have new life with you. Keep his words of truth planted firm within us, help us to keep our focused on his presence and grant us the power to be obedient to your word. You O Lord are our sword and shield, the defender of our live in you: Keep us firm in the faith until that time we like those first disciples enjoy life face to face with you. All praise to you ever one God, world without end. Amen
Collect. O Christ, raised from the dead, you come unbidden, the wounded God in our midst, bringing life to all; enlarge our minds and our hearts, that we may believe, and love you, for all you have done, for you live now and for ever. Amen.
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