for April 19, 2015, 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year
B, Readings: Acts 3:12-19, Ps 4,
1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48
Then [Jesus] opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." [Luke 24: 45-48]Maybe it was easier in the time when Jesus was fully alive again and able to speak to the Disciples, eat with them, answer questions in person, and explain the plan. All they had to deal with was fear for their lives, an adverse political climate, and the doubt of what they were experiencing. Of course there are many in today's world, even in this country, who are facing daily violence and persecution just for being who they are and what they believe in without having Jesus visible in their midst.
Many others of us merely have to deal with listening, again, to the details of a story we know well. Perhaps we also live with the complacency of being in a different time and place with everyday life to manage, and, for some, not ever truly having the experience of the Living Christ in our presence. This Eastertide is the time to think about that relationship with Christ - what has yours been, what do you want it to be, what concerns you about it, what questions do you have?
And how am I supposed to "Witness" and "Proclaim" that Jesus is about repentance and forgiveness? Repentance simply means to turn toward and if you feel you've turned away from God, just turn back toward God and you are forgiven. How to turn back? Here's a quick first step, an easy prayer. Simply call out the name of Jesus and he's with you immediately. That's it - you can even sing it! Remember the lyrics to that old James Taylor song: Just call out my name, and you know wherever I am, I'll come running, to see you again! click here to sing your prayer: James Taylor - You've Got a Friend and he'll be there, yeah, he'll be there. And what you feel inside will show outside and that will be your witness and proclamation!
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader:
~ Jesus, Lord of
Peace, You stand among us still and call us together in hope. As beloved children
of God, our hope in You will purify our souls and our faith will grow beyond measure.
Grant us the desire to abide only in You, that we may dwell in safety, know we
are forgiven, and live free from the temptations of sin.
O
God, our Defender
RESPONSE: We put our trust in You
~ Jesus, Lord of
Peace, in these times on this Earth, in our nation, and in our local
communities, there is no room for ignorance in action on the part of our
elected, appointed, or self-declared leaders. Grant wisdom and clarity in the
ways of justice and mercy to those who would chart the course of our lives, and
courage to each of us to hold You in our hearts as we hold them accountable. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
O God, our
Defender
We put our trust in You
~
Jesus, Lord of Peace, relieve the pain of those who suffer through physical or
mental illness and those who feel despair and desperation in their lives. We pause
now as we pray aloud for those in need…
O God, our Defender
We put our trust in You
~ Jesus, Lord of
Peace, though we weep for the loss of those we love, help us to ease our hearts
and minds in the knowledge that they now join You in the glory of Resurrection
to eternal life. We pray especially for:
O God, our
Defender
We put our trust in You
~ Jesus, Lord of
Peace, we pause in this moment to
offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…
O God, our
Defender
We put our trust in You
~ Jesus, Lord of
Peace, as the Apostles were in their time, today their successors, the leaders
of Your Church, give witness to the truth of Your words and the fullness of
life gained by following You. Electrify their message that we may be enveloped
by their fervor and stride mindfully into each day, without doubt or fear,
proclaiming our faith by thought, word, and action. We pray especially for:
O God, our
Defender
We put our trust in You
The Celebrant adds: God of the Beginning, the Now, and of
all that is to Come, You never leave us, it is we who turn away from You. Raise
us as You raised our Christ, into the faithfulness of heart, mind, and soul
that leads to the glory and the joy of eternal life. We ask through the name of
Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit our Sanctifier who reign together with
You as One God now and through all eternity.
Amen.
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