3rd Sunday of Easter

Readings: Acts 3v12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3v1-7; Luke 24v36b-48.

Let us pray: May the words of my mouth, and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

A Word: In Luke we hear about an appearance of the risen Jesus to his disciples. This took place in Jerusalem, after the two disciples who had met with Jesus earlier on the road to Emmaus had returned and were telling the others about it. As the disciples shared this and other accounts of meeting with Jesus, Jesus appeared amongst them saying “Peace be with you”. Jesus also asked them why they were afraid and doubting that he was there amongst them? Jesus went on to show them his hands and his feet and to ask for food, that he ate in their presence. After this Jesus explained the law of Moses, the psalms and the books of the prophets to them, so that they would be able to make sense of all that had occurred. Jesus told them that it was all planned and prophesied in advance - his suffering, his death and his rising again. All of this so that repentance and forgiveness of sins could be proclaimed in Jesus’ name to all nations by all of the disciples who were his witnesses.

In Acts, in a time after Jesus ascended into heaven, we hear Peter telling the crowds that he had been able to perform the miracle of making a man able to walk because of God. For the God who raised and glorified Jesus had lent his power to Peter, in the name of Jesus. The same Jesus who had been turned against and crucified by those who should have known better. The same Jesus who was the Messiah, the one foretold by the prophets. After telling them all of this, Peter invited the crowd to ask forgiveness for their sins, turn back to God and have their sins wiped away, because of Jesus.

In the letter of John, we hear that God loves us so much that not only can we be called his children but also, one day, see him as he really is. John reminds us that because of this we have hope and must purify ourselves by turning away from sinful living and doing what is right.

The Psalm is an ancient prayer, asking God for rescue from shame as well as to put gladness in their hearts and shine the light of God upon them. It is a prayer that closes with confidence to sleep restfully because the Lord will keep them safe.

The reading from Luke tell us that God has everything in hand, all the good and the bad things in life. The reading from Acts tells us that God has power to do miracles and wants us to turn back to him for forgiveness of our sins. The letter from John tells us that God’s love for us far outweighs our sinfulness and that all God hopes is that we will turn back by trying to avoid sin and actively do what is right. The psalm is a prayer that God has answered, is answering and will always answer, for all God wants is to rescue us, fill us with joy and make us bright with godly light. This is why the message of the Church is good news. For none of us deserve God’s love, it is offered to us freely and is ours for the taking – subject only to returning into a covenanted life of keeping God in mind, trying to avoid sinning, actively living in line with God’s instructions and repenting each time we fail. I believe that this is a great, glorious and undeserved gift – a gift we should grasp with surprise and delight. A gift we should tell others about – so they can have it too.

Let us pray: Most merciful God, we give you thanks for your son Jesus who suffered on the cross to deliver and save the world. Help us to live like he did, so that we can be servants of others in the world for which he died. Teach us how to share the message of Good News that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the entire world is able to rejoice in the power of all he accomplished for us. Amen

Thank you for joining us.