The Fifth Sunday of Easter (A), May 10, 2020—John 14:1–14 and Acts 7:55–60

 John 14:1–14 

  

Way, Truth and Life

I am the way, and I am the truth;

I am the life by which you may live;

Let no one say that for God to be real,

One must utter God's name; then God will give.

"Is that what I said? Oh no! Read the text!

Right! It's my way, how I lived that's the key;

My goal is never to make folks perplexed,

But if you live my way, surely you'll see

The Father who lives in me, living in you!

You'll have all you need; all you ask will come through."

Scott L. Barton

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."

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Rembrandt: The Stoning of Saint Stephen

(1625, first signed painting, age 19) 

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

Acts 7:55-60

Prelude to a Fall

Who knows if Saul, in seeing Stephen's faith so strange,

Was set to wond'ring if he simply was deranged,

Or if forgiveness was some quality divine

In Jesus that, in Stephen had life defined?

I think he wondered, as he pondered what to do,

If all his zeal was misplaced, which next construed

A twinge of doubt in what he'd been, 'long with remorse,

Which then portended being knocked right off his horse.

Scott L. Barton

But filled with the Holy Spirit, [Stephen] gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

Eternal Lord, Who Calmed the Waves

Please page down if you’re looking for the Bonus Poem: A Hymn for Online/at home Worship, “Eternal Lord, Who Calmed the Waves,” sung to MELITA (a.k.a. The Navy Hymn). It’s free for congregational use; just scroll the words, because the tune is well known. Grace and peace to you!  -S.L.B.

The Fourth Sunday of Easter (A), May 3, 2020–Acts 2:42-47 and 1 Peter 2:19-25

Trinity Loaf made from 3 local grains for Common Ground

First Churches, Northampton, Massachusetts

                                        

Acts 2:42-47

The Devotee

They devoted themselves to the teaching served up

By the apostles, and each others' care,

They devoted themselves in the power of love,

To the breaking of bread and the prayers;

These two words, "they devoted," now fill me with awe,

What a gift that such zeal they had!

What a wonder that all were provided with what

They had need of, which made them all glad!

And not just in the temple was church, then, "the church,"

But 'twas even at home as they ate,

Where their generous hearts and their genuine praise

All the peoples' goodwill did create;

Not by effort or work did community grow

To the faith that we now still can see,

But from all that would keep us from joy are we saved

By the Lord, who's the first devotee.

Scott L. Barton

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

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1 Peter 2:19-25

Threshold

It's quite a puzzle, isn't it,

How by his wounds you have been healed?

It says "from sins," but what is that?

Some basic human law repealed—

The law that says each person fears

To lose what he or she has gained,

One's safety, wealth, or way of life,

The things you've worked hard to attain?

The way you have to grasp for more,

Sometimes, no matter what the cost?

But then some person gives his all—

It's like a threshold has been crossed,

Some door into a life that's free

From worry since this person gave,

Without a thought for self—and now

You, too, can act as one who's saved.

Scott L. Barton

For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."

When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

The Third Sunday of Easter (A), April 26, 2020—Acts 2:14a, 36–41 and Luke 24:13–35

Caravaggio: Supper at Emmaus, 1601

Luke 24:13–35

In the Breaking

This long and detailed story makes

It seem as if the writer knew

First hand "what things" took place that day

When Cleopas, and other Jews,

Recounted to this stranger how

"Their" leaders had turned Jesus in;

If Luke was there, then even he

Can't recognize the man as kin!

And even after teaching—words

You'd think that they would recognize—

It's only in the breaking of

The bread, the Lord is now reprised;

This breaking—word made flesh—by one

Born in the place called house of bread,

Is how in each and ev'ry age

We'll see him risen from the dead.

Scott L. Barton

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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Acts 2:14a, 36–41

Drop in the Bucket

It's almost like an afterthought,

The number who were added.

Before, the news that Jesus was

Messiah had been dreaded

Because, if he was dead and gone,

From whence would come their rescue?

What kind of gratitude was that,

To crucify, not thank, you?

Thus, at a crossroads did they find

Themselves, while Pete exhorted;

And heard God's reach extended wide,

And could not be distorted

To say that just a few could reap

The benefits of living

With knowledge of the God who made

A name by faithful giving.

But now, all immigrants to faith

Were welcomed without papers,

For Christ, in giving all, had waived

Restrictions on their neighbors;

Three thousand, in the bucket, then,

Was just a drop's beginning

Toward when a world with love for all

Will one day sure be brimming.

Scott L. Barton

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.