Sixth Sunday of Easter Study

6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER   05-09-2021

EASTER is 50 days, including seven Sundays, in churches that follow the liturgical calendar. The Gospel readings on the first three Sundays each Easter Season focus on the resurrection stories about the empty tomb, the messages from angels, and appearances of the Risen Lord to his followers. On the last four Sundays of each Easter Season we look at Jesus’ farewell speeches and deeper meanings of his presence, his power, and his promises as the Lord of our lives.

FIRST READING:  Acts 10:44-48

[In last Sunday’s reading (from Chapter 8) we saw the reach of the gospel going beyond Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jewish faith and people… going beyond Samaria and what some considered to be “half-breed”, not pure, Jews… to a foreigner from Ethiopia – a man who is not a Jew by race or religion, probably darker in complexion, a powerful and wealthy man, and, of all things, a eunuch. This Ethiopian official, who had traveled a long distance, would never have been able to worship God in the Temple in Jerusalem – not because of his race, nationality, or economic status, but because of his sexual identity. But you see, this new community of Christ was different. And Philip was willing to bear fruit, to be faithful to the gospel. So Philip, directed by the Holy Spirit, spoke with the Ethiopian eunuch and ended up baptizing him. You might note that persecution – beginning with the execution of Stephen – helped physically scatter the Church people beyond and out of Jerusalem and the region of Judea. But it also was the Holy Spirit that guided, led, pushed, and empowered the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ to others in widening circles of inclusivity. As believers traveled, wherever they went, they took the gospel. Last week it was Philip responding to the Holy Spirit, open and willing to serve. This week it is Peter’s turn.]

Chapter 10 tells a story of the reach of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a Roman centurion and his family. He is a military commander of the occupying forces; more importantly, he is also a Gentile. You ought to read Acts 10:1 – 11:18 to get a sense of how this story marks one of the great turning points in the history of the Church. The author of Luke – Acts takes the time and the space to tell the story twice because it was that significant for the mission of the Church.

In today’s reading, as Peter is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with this Gentile soldier and his family, the Holy Spirit comes upon them. Apparently they were lifted out of themselves into ecstasy and began to speak in tongues. Peter and the Jewish believers who had come with him were no doubt astonished by this, but they were also convinced that this was the will and the action of God. With new understanding that was itself powered by the Spirit, Peter cannot think of a single reason to refuse to baptize these new believers. How’s that for expanding boundaries and removing walls of separation and exclusion?

    Note that Cornelius and his people ask Peter to stay with them for a few days. Two thoughts here. One is that Christian folks always seem to be drawn togetherby the Holy Spirit? by the quality of Christ’s love – in warm fellowship with one another. The second thought is that the new “members of the Church” probably want to be taught more. Joining the Church is not so much the end of the road as a beginning of a new journey.

As you consider this reading you might think about barriers. Are there some people who might just assume that our / your congregation is not for them (race, class, politics, age, sexual identity, etc)? Are there barriers that we ought to seek to recognize and remove? And have you ever, like Peter, been personally and completely changed by the Holy Spirit that you reached beyond your prejudices and principles to accept, invite, embrace, love THEM? How can THEM become US together?  

    Can you imagine what the Church would not have become if it refused to accept the new principles which God taught Peter?

 

  SECOND READING:  1 John 5:1-6

A simple message runs throughout 1 John: God is love. Our ability to love – and to forgive – is both the test and the testimony of our faith.

Please note that the community of faith that this letter is addressed to was a divided community… as many are. Loving in a community can be quite difficult – after all, we have a history of identified “wrongs” to remember and present “bumps and bruises” to continue to face. Real loving is not done in the abstract… it can be messy, uncomfortable, even discouraging at times… but we are still called, always, to love.

And that willing, obedient, servant-like depth of love “conquers the world” and becomes our “victory of faith”.

To love God is to love God’s children. To love others is to obey God’s commands. The most obedient we can ever be is to love the whole world as Jesus Christ loves, to love the whole world as Jesus commands.

GOSPEL READING:  John 15:1-8

This reading continues from last Sunday. Jesus has said, “I am the vine, you are the branches” (verse 5). Jesus has both encouraged and commanded, “Abide in me as I abide in you” (verse 4). And Jesus has spoken a gospel truth that, “Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (verse 5).

Today Jesus speaks in more specific terms about fruit-bearing. Jesus’ followers are to keep his commandments. And the only “commandment” in the entire Gospel of John is this one: “That you love one another as I have loved you.”

Love. This is NOT a suggestion… NOT a friendly request… NOT a choice… NOT a feeling… and NOT optional. It is a command to do – LOVE! Don’t love others as others love you, but love others as Jesus Christ loves you! Can we grow and go in that direction? Will we?

Abiding in Jesus’ love, staying intimately connected to him, we are strengthened and given courage to do those things that we otherwise could not do… to do those things that Jesus expects and empowers us to do. Jesus suggests that abiding in his love and learning to love like him and trying to love others no matter the circumstances will result in deep joy.

When Jesus spoke these words in John 15, he already knew, as John 13:1 tells us, “that the time had come for him to leave this world and to go to his Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” That same night that Jesus humbled down, knelt down, became a servant, and washed their feet… that same night that Jesus lifted up the loaf and broke the bread, poured out the wine and offered the cup, saying, “This is my body, this is my blood”… that same night that Jesus was betrayed by a kiss, deserted by all, and denied by the loudest disciple… he also spoke to his disciples about sacrificial love. And not only did he symbolically demonstrate his own sacrificial love for them…not only did he tell them that he loved them and was going to die for them… but he also taught his disciples the direct connection between abiding in him and keeping his commandments. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments” and “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” And his single command on that last night of his life on this earth before he was crucified was this: “That YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER as I have loved you.”

Are we trying to obey? May we each live faithfully by loving fervently!