For
Sunday, May 14, 2023; Readings: Acts 17:22-31,
Psalm 66:7-18, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21
The God who made the world and everything in it...gives to all
mortals life and breath...From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the
whole earth...so that they would search for God...though indeed he is not far
from each one of us. [Acts 17:24a, 25b-26a, 27]
Bless our God...who holds our souls in
life...who has not rejected my prayer, nor withheld his love from me. [Psalm 66:7a, 8b, 18b]
Now who will harm you if you are eager to
do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are
blessed. Do not fear what they fear...And Baptism...now saves you - not as a
removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ... [1 Peter 3:13-14a, 21]
Jesus said, "If you love me, you
will keep my commandments and I will ask the Father, and he will give you
another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of Truth...You
know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I will not leave
you orphaned; I am coming to you." [John
14:15-18]
This week's readings begin with reminders of the
work of God in Creation, Who, in addition to making the world, gave us life
and breath and holds our souls in life. God is known
to us if we open ourselves to discover God’s Presence within. While life is
often difficult, God is with us throughout it all. Paul tells the Athenians ~ and
now us ~ the obvious, God doesn't need anything as God is the Creator who made
everything. Furthermore, part of God's plan, is for us to search for and
discover God within and around us.
In the reading from 1st Peter,
the writer is comparing those whom God saved through Noah and the Ark as they
were safe upon the water and Baptism, which this prefigured and
now saves us as an appeal for a good conscience through the
resurrection of Jesus.
The words Jesus speaks in John's
Gospel this week are from the part of John’s Gospel known as The Farewell
Discourse that Jesus gave at Last Supper after washing the disciples' feet.
The Discourse in John’s chapters 14-17 gives information and instruction
to the gathered. We know well of Jesus telling the gathered of the coming
betrayal, and Peter's denial. But, there is much more to this conversation. In
last week's passage, Jesus says Do not let your hearts be troubled and
this week he tells of asking God, on our behalf, for another Advocate who
is within us, the Spirit of Truth. He reassures the disciples,
who didn't yet understand at this point ~ and we who do now know what was to
come ~ that he will not leave us orphaned; we will see him
again.
When we combine these passages and the ones ahead
toward and on the Feast of Pentecost, we find another powerful reminder ~ the
constancy of our ever-present God in Three Persons: Creator, Redeemer,
Advocate. And the truth is, when we actively work to
build and keep a good conscience, and recognize and call upon the
Trinity within us, we are more and more able to relinquish the strong hold of
earthly distractions along with its fears and griefs, its anger and
frustrations.
The Gospel this week begins with Jesus
saying If you love me, you will keep my commandments. It ends
with They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me;
and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and
reveal myself to them.
We are called to walk through our human existence with our Creator, Jesus
our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit of Truth, our Advocate; all are within us on
the Way. Knowing we are loved in each and every moment is the understanding of
and reminder to give love, even in and with the most difficult of our
encounters with God’s own People. Far from easy much of the time, yet as the
saying goes, Love IS the answer ~ Unquestionably!
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ God
of All Creation, we live, we move, and have our being in You, who gave us all life
and breath. You overlook our ignorance and never withhold Your love. Quicken
our desire to turn toward You, repent for things done and left undone, and
pledge our love and obedience to Your Commandments.
Blessed be our God
RESPONSE:
Who holds our souls in
life
~ God of All Creation, embolden
and encourage us as we urge productive humanitarian and environmental actions and
justice from the political leaders of our Nation, our Community, and our
Planet, in the service of safety, mercy, and health for all. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
Blessed be our God
Who
holds our souls in life
~ God of All Creation, deliver
comfort and hope to all who are sick, anxious, or fearful, and to those who
worry and attend to their needs. We now join our hearts to pray for those
in need… add your own petitions
Blessed be our God
Who
holds our souls in life
~ God of All Creation, we
commend to Your eternal embrace all who have left this mortal life and live
again in everlasting joy and glory in You. We pray especially for: add
your own petitions
Blessed be our God
Who
holds our souls in life
~ God of All Creation, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add
your own petitions
Blessed be our God
Who
holds our souls in life
~ God of All Creation, lift and
renew the spirits of all who lead us in Your church in these difficult days,
that they may guide us all to a place of spiritual refreshment through Your
Word and by Your Love. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Blessed be our God
Who
holds our souls in life
The Celebrant adds: Living,
Loving Creator, who holds our souls in life, free us from earthly fears and
steady us on our journey to You, as we offer sacrifice and prayer for a good
conscience and constant thanksgiving for the Resurrection of Christ. We ask through
Jesus our Living Savior; and the Spirit of Truth, our Holy Advocate, who live
and reign with You, as One God, forever and ever. Amen.
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