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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Easter 5 Year B
Introduction
Introduction
Notice in the gospel that the vinegrower (God) removes branches that do not bear fruit and prunes the others so they will bear more fruit. What it might mean to be "pruned". Think a moment. Are we tested so we will grow? Are we challenged so we can bear more fruit? Consider what in your daily life might just be God "pruning" you. Good fruit bearing, beloveds.
John 15:1-8
John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. . . . If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
From sermon4kids.com: "Just as the branches must be connected to the vine before they can produce fruit, you and I must stay connected to Jesus to produce the good fruit that God expects of us. ”
Scripture: May 2, 2021—Acts 8:26–40 (image); Psalm 22:24–30 (image); 1 John 4:7–21 (image); and John 15:1–8 (image). A video/audio journey through the scripture.
Collect: Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection: What is your deepest desire? Jesus says that “whatever you wish . . . it will be done for you” (John 15:7). Spend time in the next days asking yourself at evermore profound levels what you most devoutly wish for in this life and the next. Then ask for it.
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
Symbols of the Church
Symbols of the Church
Butterflies are symbols of the resurrection of Jesus. Just as butterflies emerge from a chrysalis in which they are hidden away, Jesus emerges from the tomb three days after being laid to rest in it. They also represent the transformation the Christian faith can lead to, through the grace of God.
from "15 Easter Symbols and Their Unique Meaning" website.
“Tree of life” by Robert Lentz
“Vine and branches” by Kimiyoshi Endo. Ed's note: see how the images are painted over the shadow of a grape vine/tree.
“The vine and the branches” by Laura Sotka
“I am the vine” by John Michael Talbot
“Remain in me, I am the vine” by Curtis Stephan
“Jesus Christ, the apple tree” sung by St. John’s Cathedral Choir, Cambridge
. . . the horizon is still quite dark.
but hope is about to dawn.
The seed of salvation is sprouting,
as earth makes ready.
~Pierre Talec
Self-guided retreat by Suzanne Guthrie
“On the vine” by
Stan Wilson
“The Spitfire Grill” (1996, PG-13), soul-satisfying movie, a story of interconnectedness, Review
“The Fisher King” (1991, R), “delightful story of atonement”, modern story of transformation, Review
“The Giant of Thunder Mountain” (1990, PG), a little girl is touched by the giant’s love, on being an outcast, “children befriend a gentle giant”, Review 1, Review 2, Review 3
“The Giant of Thunder Mountain” (2024, NR), a man determined to live his life without compromise, Review
For youth: God’s love can be tough love—especially in the form of the command for us to love one another. Our own Bishop Curry preaches “Love is the way”. How is it “tough” for you to love “others”? What characteristics of “others” make it tough for you to love them? What about people who are different from you? What about love in the face of injustice? Cornel West said that “Justice is what love looks like in public.” (If you don’t know Dr. West, visit his website.) How might this statement relate to the gospel and epistle readings for this week?
Excerpted from “Abiding in love”, SOLI website.Feel free to comment by sending an email to FaithatHome2020@gmail.com.
On the final Sundays of Easter, our attention is directed to the results in our lives of Jesus’ dying and rising: the results of Baptism and Eucharist. The Gospel reading today describes our life in Christ. That life is characterized by our love for Jesus as the ground of our faithfulness. We are as intimately bound up in the life of the risen Jesus as the branches of a plant, drawing our new life directly from him.
Like a vine growing new branches, the early Church began to spread beyond Jerusalem almost immediately, bound together in Christ’s love and led by the Spirit. In today’s reading from Acts, Philip, one of the seven ordained with Stephen, preaches the Gospel to an official of the Queen of Ethiopia. This preaching was prompted by the official’s reading of the “Suffering Servant” passage from Isaiah (52:13-53:12). The Ethiopian is converted and baptized on the spot.
Today’s reading from First John carries on his theme of our share in God’s self-giving love (agape). We are to reflect in our own living and ministry that same love which was manifested to us in Jesus’ dying and rising. This is the life he shares with us.
We, the People of God, gather in Eucharist to remember and share the story of God’s love for us. Our actions in Eucharist are a liturgical expression of self-giving love toward God and others. As we receive Holy Communion, God implants in us Jesus’ own life and equips us to extend the divine love to all people in concrete actions of ministry and proclamation.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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