Lectionary for Easter 5 B
Opening sentence. Beloved, let us love one another, because the source of love is God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
Collect. Almighty God, whom to know is everlasting life: grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading. Acts 8:26-40. We are introduced to Philip in Acts chapter 6 when he and six others are appointed to give pastoral care to the community of believers. This appointment was to free the Apostles so that they could give all their attention to prayer and proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. Stephen was also one of the seven and Luke recounts how Stephen so enraged the religious authorities that they stirred up the people and he was martyred. After his death many of the believers were hounded out of Jerusalem and that is where we next pick up the story of Philip. Philip under the guidance of the Holy Spirit is directed to a lonely road and it is on that road that he has an encounter with an Ethiopian who had come to worship God in Jerusalem, now he is on his way home to Ethiopia. In the ancient world Ethiopia was a much bigger state than present day Ethiopia and controlled all the trade routes linking the Roman Empire and India and Asia. With that understanding we see that any court official would have been a powerful individual and would have travelled with a large cohort of followers. Seated in his chariot he would have made an imposing figure. Philip shows great courage to run up and speak to the Ethiopian official when he heard him reading from the scriptures. ( We should note that reading aloud was the normal practise in the ancient world; silent reading is a relatively modern practise!)
At Philip’s question the Ethiopian invited him to join him and explain the meaning of the passage from Isaiah. Through Philips explanation the Ethiopian receives the faith to believe in Jesus as Lord and urges Philip to baptise him immediately, which he does in some water by the wayside. The Ethiopian goes on his way rejoicing and Philip miraculously finds himself in Azotos.
In this passage we read of the holy Spirit’s power to direct and empower Philip. We also read of Philip’s openness to be directed by the Spirit and act in obedience to the Spirit’s guidance. Philip was chosen to act as a pastoral deacon but continued to grow in the power of the Spirit and conducted a powerful teaching ministry on to Caesarea. At the end of Acts Philip is no longer simply a Deacon but is named as Philip the Evagelist. (Acts 21:8)
The passge recalls that despite serious opposition which scattered the believers the end result is that the Gospel continues to grow and in this incident the faith is taken by the Ethiopian into Africa. We also read of the importance of the Hebrew Scriptures to reveal the truth about Jesus. As Christians we are often so immersed in the New Testament that we forget that for many decades the only scritures the early church had was what we call the Old Testament. Finally we notice the ability of the Holy Spirit to influence people and situations to further the spread of the Good News about Jesus.
Prayer. Lord we thank you for those who are called to preach and teach your word and we thank you for the openness of hearts and minds that lead to faith. We pray for ourselves that we may be more open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and more obedient to the call that day by day you place on our lives. We also pray for those who still do not know you that they may have listening ears that lead them into a true knowledge of your great love for them. Grant that we all may walk in obedience to you as we go through each day and give to you the honour and glory which is yours by right. This we pray in Jesus Name. Amen
Reading, John 15:1-8. In John’s record of Jesus he has reminded us of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet. (chapter 12) This was in preparation of his approaching death. With Jesus describing himself as the true vine this would remind the disciples of how essential Jesus is to the life of the nation. In the temple was a symbol of the vine which emphasised that the nation was supported by God and so the meaning to the disciples would have been quite clear. Way back in chapter ten John remembers Jesus declaring that, “the Father and I are one”. In relation to the vine, here is a similar statement. Jesus and the Father are joined together to give life to the nation. The vine is composed of branches but it is the vine which gives the branches life. The life that is in the branches is the life of the vine. No living branch has any other life than the life of the vine. Without life from the vine a branch will wither and be discarded.
It is all so understandable for we have all seen how a vine’s branches flourish when attached to the vine root system yet John is recording something very important which we must not miss.
Jesus is indispensible to the life of the people of God. Like the song we often sing in worship. “In Christ alone my hope is found”. It is obvious but sometimes we forget and the needs of the society or the urgency that come push the centrality of Jesus into the background.
The Father prunes the branches. It’s not clear if pruning a vine is painful but experience tells us that in life pruning can be. Changing direction is not easy and there will be times when we also have to admit that we are wrong! Blundering on regardless is often easier that stopping and taking in the directions that God will give.
Jesus’ words are also reminding us of the importance of being fruitful. As Christians we need to continue to grow. The books you loved as a child are no longer the books you read as an adult. You can still love those books and the stories they tell but at the same time you have moved on, needs and tastes have changed. The Christian life should be no different! Jesus is reminding us that we need to grow and as we grow we begin to produce fruit. The moment a pruned vine begins its new season of growth the potential for fruit begins to appear. Fruitfulness is dependent on Jesus not on effort and that is why “abiding” is so important. Abiding is a continuing process not simply a once only experience. In that well known verse from John, as he recounts the love God has for all he goes on to say, “so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”: we need to understand that the word “believes” is a word which should read, “one who goes on believing”. Abiding is an everyday experience as necessary and putting on your shoes in the morning or your hat on your head when in the sun. We must abide!
Jesus himself reminds us that abiding brings a life which is complete, a life which provides everything that we need for contentment and peace.
Prayer. Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you riches beyond imagination. Pour into our hearts such love towards 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 forever. (From Uniting in Worship)
Holy Lord God, we pray that our hearts and minds might be set on hearing you and our wills determine to follow you in obedience. May we be open to your call on us, that your Holy Spirit will be the one who guides our lives and keep us close to you. Give us the patience in a busy world to keep you always in mind, that where you are we may be also. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Collect. Loving Father, you guide us in right ways; Jesus Christ, you are our true home; Spirit of God, in you are the depths of life. Holy God, three yet one, may we live in union with you, and bear the fruit of love and faith now and for ever. Amen.
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