St David, Thelbridge

Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 3: 12-19

Many years ago Gill and I went on a camping holiday to the Isle of Wight. Actually we had intended to holiday in the New Forest but that is another story. On the Sunday of our holiday we went to the local parish Church and joined with them for their service. It is one that I shall never forget. When it came to the sermon the vicar climbed into the pulpit and looked around at his congregation. He started to speak and all were very attentive. No drooping eyelids or nodding of heads as they fell to the chest. But, after just a few minutes he suddenly shouted out, “You sinners”. I nearly fell out of my pew, not because I was almost asleep but the sheer shock of his attack. It took me right back to the films on the TV with the vicar banging his fist on the pulpit side to make his point.

The vicar certainly had the full attention of everyone. Nobody dare to even think of even day-dreaming. Some time after returning home I thought I would try a similar tactic. Only once! Hitting the pulpit with my fist may have been dramatic, but oh did it hurt. Stone is not very forgiving. But, not wishing to stray too far today’s reading in Acts does contain within it a degree of accusation.

Peter was addressing the Israelites. He was telling them that it was they who had delivered Jesus over to be Crucified. Pilate had found no guilt in him and had released him. But the crowd had insisted upon the release of a known murderer and not Jesus. Jesus, who was Holy and Righteous was handed over. Peter and his companions were witnesses to this. They are also witnesses to his being raised from the dead.

What had caused this confrontation we are reading of? A man had just been healed. In the verses immediately preceding the ones for today the story is being told of a man crippled from birth being healed by the disciples. People had come running to see what had happened and a crowd was forming. Peter was telling them it was through faith in this special person, Jesus, that they had performed this miracle.

But Peter did not shout at the crowd for long. He understood what had happened and why. Although they had cried out for the Crucifixion of Jesus it was not really their fault. What had taken place had been foretold by the prophets. God had fulfilled, through them, that the Messiah would suffer. And this had taken place.

In his suffering on the Cross Jesus had forgiven the sins of mankind. That includes you and me, everyone. As Father Brown, almost at the end of every episode on the television, asks the criminal to repent for the good of their soul, so too we are asked to do the same. Repent and turn to God, as the placards of old might have said as their bearer marched up and down the thoroughfares. It will be good for the soul, and my clenched hand on a Sunday morning.

Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter

Almighty Father,

who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples

with the sight of the risen Lord:

give us such knowledge of his presence with us,

that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life

and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

St David, Thelbridge

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An homily for the Third Sunday of Easter

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