Easter II- I Peter 2:19-25; John 10:11-16

On the traditional one-year calendar, the Second Sunday after Easter highlights the theme of Christ the Good Shepherd (the three-year lectionary delays this theme for a week). In the Gospel from John 10, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life and takes it up again to save His sheep, whatever fold they may be part of.

The theme of  Jesus Christ as a faithful Shepherd also occurs in the epistle selection from I Peter 2:19-25. In other recently read preceding passages from 1 Peter 1 and from 1 Peter 2:1-10, the Apostle refers to Christ's Resurrection, faith, hope, and the implications for the lives of believers. Thus, our passage in 1 Peter 2 is based on faith in the risen Lord Jesus. With this in mind, Peter is doing more than offering some practical advice about life. He is teaching that those who believe in Christ's Resurrection should live in accord with what they profess. The tribulations that come in this world should remind us of Christ's own innocent sufferings and His victory over them. He is the Suffering Servant who has triumphed over pain and death. He has risen from the dead, and He offers believers new life. He is the shepherd and overseer of our souls. Because of the death and resurrection of Christ, nothing should destroy our Christian hope.

Easter I- John 20:19-23

The Gospel for the First Sunday after Easter is John 20:19-23. The risen Christ appears to ten of the apostles (Thomas is absent). When He comes, Jesus blesses the disciples with divine peace. Despite reports of the Resurrection, they are still fearful and timid, and troubled by guilt. When the risen Lord comes to where they are locked in, He brings greetings in the common Jewish manner, saying, “Peace be with you."

This Biblical greeting is an implied prayer for God’s peace. Christ's prayer for peace has a special meaning in light of His resurrection. It is a blessing from the risen Lord, who is the embodiment of God’s peace. After all that has happened, the disciples have a special need for His peace and assurance. They need His forgiveness and encouragement.

Christ does not stop with reassuring words. Jesus adds a mission or a call to action. As the heavenly Father has sent Him, likewise Christ sends the apostles (and through them, His whole Church). Jesus brings peace through His resurrection victory over sin and spiritual death, and He asks His disciples to share that peace with others. Jesus the Christ is risen and alive, and His peace is to be spread. His followers are to continue His work in the world. Christians are called to share the peace that comes through faith in the crucified and risen Lord with all people.

Easter Week- Luke 24; John 20

Lent, Holy Week, and Easter Sunday have come and gone. Christian preparation for Good Friday and Easter has passed. Celebration and rejoicing have reached a high point on Easter morning, and we have begun the 50 days of Easter joy.  Unfortunately, for many of us, during the rest of Easter week and even the whole season, it seems we crash. This tendency is understandable. We often exhaust ourselves with preparations and then lack the energy to enjoy the spiritual celebrations on the church calendar.

However, the fact is that Easter Week and the fifty days of Eastertide should be filled with spiritual rejoicing for individual believers and the body of believers. We should be freshly inspired by our Lord's Resurrection. So even if we take a brief pause to catch our breath, let us remain focused on our risen Lord in our thoughts and prayers.

The Traditional Books of Common Prayer offer us help to continue celebrating. The primary collect for Easter Sunday is to be said throughout the week. There are Eucharistic collects and readings for Easter Monday and Tuesday in BCPs from 1549-1962. The Anglican Missal and newer Prayer Books also provide propers for all of Easter Week. Hymnals contain numerous Easter hymns which may be read or sung as prayers of praise and thanksgiving. And as always, there are readings for the Daily Offices. 

So let us be filled with prayers and praises during the Easter Season. Our prayers of thanksgiving and rejoicing for Christ's Resurrection should be as devoted as our prayers of preparation and repentance! Christ is risen! Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!

Easter Sunday, the Day of Resurrection- John 20:1-10

The Paschal Feast, the Feast of the Resurrection, or Easter, is the culmination of the biblical message and of the church calendar. Jesus of Nazareth, who accepted terrible physical and spiritual suffering to save us from sin, has risen from the dead; He offers us new life, in this world and the next. Easter is the great dividing point in human history. Among other things, Christ's Resurrection is the seal of divine approval upon the earthly life, ministry, and death of Jesus. In addition, it is the key event that transforms a band of disheartened and defeated disciples into faithful witnesses and ministers of the Good News. The whole New Testament is written from the standpoint of faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

In the traditional Books of Common Prayer, the first Easter Gospel is from St. John 20. 1-10. It proclaims the importance of faith. At first, the women at the empty tomb and the apostles who hear the women's report react with fear and curiosity. When the apostles hear the news from the women, Simon Peter and the other disciple (traditionally identified as John) run to see for themselves. Peter goes in first to see the grave clothes. Then that other disciple enters, "and he saw and believed" (St. John 20:8). Accepting that the empty tomb is a real and important event, but this is only a first step. There must also be a second step.  The reality of the empty tomb calls each person to a personal response: faith in the living Jesus Christ! 

So on this Easter, let each of us accept with faith what the empty tomb tells us about Jesus. He is unique. He is not merely someone who has recovered from physical death. He has experienced Resurrection; that is, He has conquered death. He has overcome the forces of evil, destruction, and death for all time, for all who truly believe in Him. He is the Word of God incarnate, God the Son. By overcoming death, He has (in the words of the collect) "opened unto us the gate of everlasting life." Christ lives, and because He lives, we also may truly live in union with Him. Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed; O come, let us adore him. Alleluia.

Easter Even or Holy Saturday- 1 Peter 3:17-22

Traditional Books of Common Prayer call this Saturday of Holy Week "Easter Even", and following the ancient Church, they keep the day very low key. There is no celebration of the Eucharist during this day (if there is an Easter Vigil Eucharist, it is technically for Easter Day and the consecration should be after nightfall or even after midnight). There are, of course, readings for Morning and Evening Prayer, and there are propers for the Ante-Communion or Liturgy of the Word. This day recalls the time Jesus' body rested in the tomb.

The Epistle from First Peter 3: 17-22 has two main themes: 1) the importance of Christ's death for our salvation, and 2) a relationship between Christ's death and Christian Baptism. This is a good time for us absorb the reality of Christ's death and to give thanks quietly for His atoning work. It is also appropriate to contemplate the ways that Christian Baptism unites us to Christ, His Death, and His Resurrection.

Good Friday- Isaiah 53, John 19

 Good Friday always seems like a time to read, hear, and meditate upon the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and to pray quietly and deeply. Let us briefly emphasize two of today's readings. Isaiah 53 is one of several passages which speaks of the Suffering Servant of God. This Messianic figure bears horrible sufferings innocently for the redemption of God's people. In the end, He also overcomes suffering and is honored by the Lord God. Jesus Himself alludes to such prophecies and applies them to Himself and  His work (Luke 24:26-27). Later, the Apostles (I Peter 2:22-25), Evangelists (Matthew 27: 12,29; John 12:38), and Christians down through the centuries have seen these prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

We see Isaiah's prophecy made personal and concrete in the Passion account from John 19. Jesus is holy and innocent. He deserves all honor, respect, and love. Yet, He humbly and quietly accepts rejection, insults, physical abuse, torture, and an excruciating and slow death to deliver people from sin, death, and the devil. He suffers for our transgressions. He lays down His life for His sheep. Jesus restores balance to a fallen creation. He overcomes the imbalance and disorder caused by sin. He does something that we humans could never do for ourselves. He atones for our sin; He graciously reconciles sinners with divine righteousness. Only through Christ's suffering and His perfect offering on the cross does divine goodness decidedly triumph. Because of His redeeming work, it is "Good Friday" after all. Thanks be to God!

Thursday before Easter, commonly called Maundy Thursday- I Corinthians 11:23ff

The Thursday in Holy Week has a rich history and several liturgical associations. These associations include preparing for baptism or confirmation, the blessing of holy oils, the washing of feet, and the stripping of altars. However, the chief theme of the day is the commemoration of the institution of the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, or Eucharist. 

The Prayer Book epistle for this day is from I Corinthians 11:23ff and contains St. Paul's version of the words of institution of the Lord's Supper. These simple words are at the heart of Christian worship. Theologians have often discussed and disputed the exact meaning of the words. But although sacramental theology is important, the significance of this holy meal goes beyond our explanations. In other words, obedience and faith are more important than human theories.

Several simple affirmations seem clear. First, Jesus Himself began and commanded His disciples to continue this sacred meal. Secondly, He related it to His self-sacrifice that was about to take place for human salvation. Thirdly, this commemoration of His death also points to His continuing presence as a living Lord and anticipates that He will come again in glory. 

So, as followers of Christ, the main issues are not abstract theories; the most important thing is an attitude of humble faith. The Eucharist is about what Christ has done and is doing for our salvation. Through the blessed bread and wine, our Lord offers us His continuing presence. He offers us His grace to continue the journey in faith.  And our response to His grace should be thanksgiving.

Wednesday before Easter- Luke 22

This Wednesday in Holy Week has sometimes been called "Spy Wednesday" because tradition has remembered this day as the time when Judas Iscariot agreed with the chief priests to betray Jesus (Luke 22:2-6, 47-48; Matthew 26:1-5,14-25). A variety of human characters opposed Jesus- the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem, the Roman rulers, the fickle crowds, and Judas the traitor. Even the other close disciples made the situation worse. They did not really listen to or understand Jesus, and Simon Peter, the spokesman for the Twelve, would lose courage and faith, and he would publicly deny Jesus.

This sad state of affairs reflects the fallen human predicament. All are sinners who contribute to Christ's suffering and death. Yet, He still loves us, dies for us, and offers us His love, grace, and forgiveness. The key is our response to Christ. Judas will later be sorrowful, but he doesn't have faith in Jesus' mercy and forgiveness. Peter and the others will truly repent and trust in Christ's saving grace. As we meditate on the suffering and death of Jesus, may we also trust in the love, grace, and pardon that He offers each one of us!