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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Easter 6 Yr C
"Holy Reflection" by Sue Ann Jackson Land. Downloaded 04122022 from https://www.zazzle.com/holy_spirit_dove_poster-228335041386382247
Published date 5/19/2022
Introduction
Introduction
From last week's "greatest commandment", it is love that made the earth; love that sustains the earth (and us); love that saves us (and the earth). This week, Jesus continues his teaching. First, Jesus reminds us that our love of Jesus will keep us following him and behaving as he asks. Jesus also reminds us that his Father (and ours) will love those who love Jesus. Jesus continues to say that Jesus and our Father will come to be with us and dwell in our homes.
To help us get there, Jesus says that the Father is sending us an Advocate or the Holy Spirit. We are to learn by the hand of the Holy Spirit (sent from God the Father and God the Son). The Advocate will guide us, keep us on the "right path", plead our case with the Father (if needed), and generally walk the way with us.
It's important to note that our love of Jesus commits us to behaving as he has taught. In many ways, our love of Jesus is a pledge to follow his teachings. To me it is interesting that Jesus says he is forecasting that the Advocate will come so that, when the Advocate does come, we will believe what Jesus has told us. We are to open our hearts and our homes to what is to come. We await your instruction, O Holy Spirit. Comments welcome.
John 14:23-29
John 14:23-29
Jesus said to Judas (not Iscariot), "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe."
From sermon4kids.com: “When Jesus returned to His Father in heaven, He asked God to send the Holy Spirit to comfort His disciples until the day when He returned. That includes you and me! ”
Scripture: May 25, 2025—Sixth Sunday of Easter—Acts 16:9-15 (image); Psalm 67 (image); Revelation 21:10. 22-22:5 (image); and John 14:23-29 (image).
Collect: O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Reflection: What chains bind you or the people of your community at this time in your life? Where each day do you notice the freedom of Christ working to break the chains apart?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
A visual/audio journey.
Images enhancing
the scripture
“Adoration of the Lamb“, altarpiece, Cathedral of St Bavo, Ghent
“The great red dragon and the woman clothed with the sun” by William Blake [read about here]
“And the moon became as blood” by Howard Finster [story behind painting too]
Music founded
in the scripture
“My peace I give you“, Taize
“Jesus Christ, the apple tree“, sung by King’s College choir
“Thy perfect love” by John Rutter
“Nearer, my God, to thee“, exciting version of traditional hymn sung by BYU a capella group
“Your love divine” by Richard Smallwood
Other voices
about the scripture
“Peace the world cannot give” by David Lose
“A peace of marvel” by Rick Morley
“Stay” by Jan Richardson, includes images
“When the truth ain’t the truth” by Garry Deverell
One can be the singular one
or it can be arithmetically generous
a trillion divided by itself held as fraction
this unity you pray for is it
a lock-step compliance, an orthodoxy
the twentieth century hegemonic earthquake
is it school uniforms and khakis
blue polos and neckerchiefs tied just so
sneakers with white socks pulled up
or is it a complex of color differentiated
a polyrhythmic dance, a tango
of entanglement and then release
collect us all in your manifold arms
and let us be just what we are and
find unity only in your love which is you
© 2013 Michael Coffey
Movies representing some part of the scripture
“Princess Monanoke” (1997, PG-13), gods battle with humans, animated, Review
“The iron giant” (1999, animated, G), “anti-guns parable”, animated, Review
“West Beirut” (1998, PG-13), adolescents struggles to retain their identities in midst of turmoil, Review
“Adaptation” (2002, R), a Spike Jonze film about passions, about lesser appetites, Review
“Remember the Titans” (2000, PG), a way out of racial hatred and bigotry, Review
Image credit: Photo by Leonard von Bibra on Unsplash
For families: Study guide and activities (former guide), group activity, snacks—have some gummy worms, kid video
For children: see family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft
For middlers: see family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; puzzle
Coloring page: Acts; That all may be one, When I am afraid, John, Jesus keeps his promise
For youth: Make sure you read Acts 16:9-15. It is a compelling example of hospitality. Lydia received God and opened her home to the traveling apostles. This kind of hospitality comes from our love of Jesus and our willingness to hear his commantment to love one another. How have you loved others this week? Have you welcomed someone into your heart and home? Comments welcome.
Image credit: Photo by TopSphere Media on Unsplash
The liturgy today continues to be concerned with exploring the consequences of Christ’s resurrection and our new life in him through baptism and Eucharist.
[John 14:23-29] Today’s gospel reading is a portion of the discourses between Jesus and the disciples on the evening before his crucifixion. Here Jesus talks about the union between himself and the Father. This union is shared with us so that we can say with St. Paul, “not I, but Christ in me.” The source of that union is the Holy Spirit given us in Baptism. The ultimate result of this union is peace; in Hebrew, Shalom. Shalom is the restored unity of the creation with God, and the resultant reconciliation between all peoples.
[John 5:1-9] The gospel reading is one of the healings Jesus performed, this one used by Christians as an image of baptism. A sick man is unable to get into the pool that is reputed to have healing powers. Jesus comes to him by the water and raises him up in an action that reminds us that Jesus, in baptism, raises us up and makes us whole.
In the first reading, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke come to Philippi, the first time the gospel moves from Asia Minor to Europe. There Paul encounters a woman who worshipped God although she was a Gentile. After hearing Paul proclaim the resurrection of Jesus, she and her household were baptized and her house became Paul’s center of ministry there and quite likely the home of the church in that city.
From Imaging the Word: An Arts and Lectionary Resource. Copyright © 1996 by United Church Press, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, page 114.
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