Embedded Files
. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Easter 5 Yr C
Introduction
Introduction
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13). This is one of the rare instances in which I prefer the King James translation. As we all know, we are shaped by our life experiences so my experience learning to sing Bairstow's lovely interpretation forever sealed my love of this scripture. It is so clear that our relationship with others identifies us as "Christ's own." There could be nothing else. Love full stop!
I do not cast stones here. I am the worst about putting conditions on loving my neighbors. I'm exceptionally clear about my love for those whom I see as disadvantaged: needing food, care, assistance, housing, support, and the list is endless. My challenge is loving those who can't seem to drive correctly, who put themselves above all others including their children, who don't share my concern for our environment, who don't see politics the way I do, and that list is endless.
Oh my friends, this concept of "love" or "charity", as King James translation puts it, is so much more than giving alms to the poor. A show of hands, please. When was the last time you ridiculed someone's look (color of clothing, size of body among others)? Or laughed at someone else's joke about how someone looks? Despite all the lofty justifications ("Oh, that's just a joke", "Oh, that's just comedy", "Oh, there's no harm intended"), these behaviors are not charity! (I have to say here that I've stopped watching certain comedians because I feel their "joke" is really cruel.) To quote Cratchit from Scrooge: "Have some charity." Comments welcome. ["Marco . . . Polo" in "Brain Food" below is an excellent short read. Also don't forget to read "For youth" below.]
John 13:31-35
John 13:31-35
At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
From sermon4kids.com: “Would you like for people to look at the way you live and know that you are a follower of Jesus? . . . obey his command, “Love one another as I have loved you.””
Scripture: May 18, 2025—Fifth Sunday of Easter—Acts 11:1-18 (image); Psalm 148 (image); Revelation 21:1-6 (image); and John 13:31-35 (image).
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: In Acts 11:1–18, Peter, led by the Spirit, discloses God’s new directions to heal creation, and the church reconfigures its social boundaries. The Gentiles, who were excluded from the church in Jerusalem because their eating habits were judged to be vile and unclean, are now included by the reconciling work of the Spirit. Where is God’s Spirit opening us to new directions in mission this day?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
A visual/audio journey.
[Thanks to Stephen Herchak for reading.]
Images enhancing
the scripture
“Love, an Allegory, Vignette” by E. F. Burney
“First Law of Nature—Not Self-Preservation but love” by Patrick Sullivan
“Charity” by Isaac Oliver
"Love one another" by Mark Lawrence
Music founded
in the scripture
“Mandatum novum“, plainsong
“I give you a new commandment“, sung by boys choir
“Here, O Lord, your servants gather“, new hymn tune Tokyo
Other voices
about the scripture
Our inability to love one another as Jesus mandates should drive us to humbly and thoroughly rely on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Any act or employment of Jesus’ love we perform is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and thus the Lord alone must be given the credit and be glorified.
Preaching God’s Transforming Justice: A Lectionary Commentary, Year C,p. 226.
“If you love” by Debie Thomas
“Marco . . . . Polo” by David Clifford
Movies representing some part of the scripture
“A beautiful mind” (2001, PG-13), “protracted struggle with schizophrenia”, transfiguration of John, “adorable kid transforms womanizer in poignant Oscar winner”, accepting life's challenges, Review
“Me and you and everyone we know” (2005, R), “relationship in today’s world”, Review
“Little Manhattan” (2005, PG), “adorable comedy” (yes, about kids), Review
Image credit: Photo by Leonard von Bibra on Unsplash
For families: Study guide & activities (former guide), group activity; snack, kid video
For children: see family guide/activity above (another activity); bulletin; craft;
For middlers: see family guide/activity above (another activity); bulletin; craft
Coloring: Acts; Love each other, Psalm
For youth: The greatest commandment is "Love"—pretty simple. It's not "love if someone is good to you". It's not "love if someone is more powerful than you". It's not "love if you can get something from them". Simply love, without strings attached. Does that mean love the kid who's always picking on you? Yes. How about your younger sibling who keeps tagging along with you (when you don't want it)? Yes. How about your parents when they are keeping you from going somewhere with your friends? Yes. Love—that's all! Comments welcome.
Image credit: Photo by TopSphere Media on Unsplash
Each Sunday in the fifty days between Easter and Pentecost, we explore the implications of Jesus’ dying and rising for our lives.
Today we hear from John’s Gospel some of the Lord’s words on the night before his death. The Lord tells his friends that he is going away and gives them his final instructions, “the new commandment” to love one another as he loves us.
This Sunday’s reading from the book of Revelation is a vision of the final consummation of God’s Kingdom as the new Jerusalem. The redeemed rejoice, for God dwells with them and does away forever with death and grief and weeping.
Today’s reading from Acts traces further the extension of the proclamation of Christ’s resurrection. Peter describes to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem the astounding discovery that God’s call is not only to Jews but to the Gentiles as well, as he tells of the conversion and baptism of Cornelius, the first Gentile Christian.
It is in our relationship of union with Christ in baptism and communion that his love for us is revealed. Our liturgy here equips us to carry out our larger liturgy, our work as God’s people, in loving others through ministry, service, and prayer. In that way, the work of extending God’s kingdom will continue to spread in and through us, the Body of the Risen Christ, as we follow his command to love others as he loves us.
From Imaging the Word: An Arts and Lectionary Resource. Copyright © 1996 by United Church Press, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, page 114.
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