Musings for Easter 4

Sunday, May 15, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Easter

Musings by Karen Grover

INTRODUCTION
Today is sometimes called "Good Shepherd Sunday." Jesus is called the "gate" of the sheep in today's gospel. The risen Christ opens the way to abundant life. He anoints our heads with oil and guides us beside the still waters of our baptism. Each Sunday he spreads a feast before us in the midst of the world's violence and war. We go forth to be signs of the resurrection and extend God's tender care to all creation.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

O God our shepherd,
you know your sheep by name
and lead us to safety through the valleys of death.
Guide us by your voice,
that we may walk in certainty and security
to the joyous feast prepared in your house,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

Acts 2:42–47

Today's reading is a description of life in the community following Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was outpoured on God's people. This new community is founded on the teachings of the apostles and sustained in the breaking of the bread.

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
⁴³Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All who believed were together and had all things in common; ⁴⁵they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. (Ps. 23:1)

¹The LORD ^| is my shepherd;

I shall not ^| be in want.

²The LORD makes me lie down ^| in green pastures

and leads me be- ^| side still waters.

³You restore my ^| soul, O LORD,

and guide me along right pathways ^| for your name's sake.

⁴Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I shall ^| fear no evil;

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they ^| comfort me. R

⁵You prepare a table before me in the presence ^| of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is ^| running over.

⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days ^| of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the ^| LORD forever. R

SECOND READING

1 Peter 2:19–25

Doing the right things does not guarantee that one will not experience difficulties, hardships, rejection, or even suffering. Here Christ is presented as the model for our path of endurance and loyalty to God, particularly in the midst of adversity.

¹⁹For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. ²⁰If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. ²¹For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
²²"He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth."
²³When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. ²⁴He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
²⁵For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

GOSPEL

John 10:1–10

Jesus uses an image familiar to the people of his day to make a point about spiritual leadership. Good shepherds bring people to life through Jesus, but those who avoid Jesus are dangerous to the flock.

Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. ²The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." ⁶Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
⁷So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

MUSINGS

For me this is a very comforting Gospel reading. Jesus, as the gatekeeper, is inviting and welcoming. We as His sheep hear His voice and follow Him and can "come in and go out and find pasture." We are blessed with a life of abundance when we walk through His gates. But with that abundance also comes the call to serve others and share that abundance.

There is a communal effect in the image of being a part of His flock of sheep. It makes me think of our walking up to the altar for communion as a church community. We gather in church to hear His word and be guided into a week of serving. Our shepherd who has just hung on the cross, died for us and was raised to life is calling us to follow Him. Why would we not listen to Him and follow?

LET US PRAY:

· that we follow our shepherd's call

· that we lead a life of service as we are called to do

· for our youth who answer His call to serve

· for the farmers that their pastures can soon be worked

· for abundant proceeds for Habitat for Humanity

QUOTE "Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it."

Musings for Easter 3

Sunday, May 8, 2011
Third Sunday of Easter

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Joshua Brown

INTRODUCTION
Today's gospel begins with two disciples walking to Emmaus, overcome with sadness, loss, and disappointment. They had hoped Jesus, who was crucified, would be the one to redeem Israel! Yet the risen Christ walks with them, and then opens their eyes in the breaking of the bread. Each Sunday our hearts burn within us as the scriptures are proclaimed and Christ appears to us as bread is broken and wine is poured. The story of Emmaus becomes the pattern of our worship each Lord's day.

Julian of Norwich, renewer of the church, died around 1416
When she was about thirty years old, Julian (or Juliana) reported visions that she later compiled into a book, Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love, now a classic of medieval mysticism. The visions declared that love was the meaning of religious experience, provided by Christ who is love, for the purpose of love.

Victor the Moor, martyr, died 303 (TFF)
Also known as Victor Maurus, this native of the northwest African nation of Mauritania was a soldier in the Roman Praetorian Guard. Under the persecution of Maximian, Victor died for his faith at Milan.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, your Son makes himself known to all his disciples in the breaking of bread. Open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in his redeeming work, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

Acts 2:14a, 36–41

Today's reading is the conclusion of Peter's sermon preached following the giving of the Holy Spirit to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. The center of his preaching is the bold declaration that God has made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Christ.

^14aBut Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, ³⁶Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."
³⁷Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" ³⁸Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." ⁴⁰And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." ⁴¹So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 116:1–4, 12–19

I will call on the name of the LORD. (Ps. 116:13)

¹I love the LORD, who has ^| heard my voice,

and listened to my ^| supplication,

²for the LORD has given ^| ear to me

whenev- ^| er I called.

³The cords of death entangled me; the anguish of the grave

^| came upon me;

I came to ^| grief and sorrow.

⁴Then I called upon the name ^| of the LORD:

"O LORD, I pray you, ^| save my life."

¹²How shall I re- ^| pay the LORD

for all the good things God has ^| done for me?

¹³I will lift the cup ^| of salvation

and call on the name ^| of the LORD.

¹⁴I will fulfill my vows ^| to the LORD

in the presence of ^| all God's people.

¹⁵Precious in your ^| sight, O LORD,

is the death ^| of your servants.

¹⁶O LORD, truly I ^| am your servant;

I am your servant, the child of your handmaid;

you have freed me ^| from my bonds.

¹⁷I will offer you the sacrifice ^| of thanksgiving

and call upon the name ^| of the LORD.

¹⁸I will fulfill my vows ^| to the LORD

in the presence of ^| all God's people,

¹⁹in the courts of ^| the LORD's house,

in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. ^| Hallelujah!

SECOND READING

1 Peter 1:17–23

The imagery of exile is used to help the readers of this letter understand that they are strangers in a strange land. Christians no longer belong to this age. Through the death of Christ we belong to God, so that our focus, faith, and hope are no longer on such things as silver or gold.

¹⁷If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. ¹⁸You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. ²⁰He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. ²¹Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.
²²Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. ²³You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

GOSPEL

Luke 24:13–35

The colorful story of Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus answers the question of how Jesus is to be recognized among us. Here, he is revealed through the scriptures and in the breaking of bread.

¹³Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.¹⁵While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" ¹⁹He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. ²²Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." ²⁵Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! ²⁶Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" ²⁷Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
²⁸As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. ²⁹But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. ³²They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" ³³That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. ³⁴They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" ³⁵Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Reflection

And with this our good Lord said full blissfully: Lo, how that I loved thee, as if He had said: My darling, behold and see thy Lord, thy God that is thy Maker and thine endless joy, see what satisfying and bliss I have in thy salvation; and for my love rejoice with me. – Julian of Norwich, English mystic, ca. 1342 - ca. 1416

Parenting has revealed to me new understandings of God’s love for God’s people. Experiencing the satisfying bliss that comes with seeing my daughters accomplishments large and small has given me the slightest of glimpses into the joy filled relationship God desires with us. Though the act of parenting I more fully comprehend God’s deep desire for his children to rejoice with God for the gift of God’s love. My deep and unconditional love for my daughter reflects a small measure of God’s love for me.

God’s unfathomable love claimed us in baptism, forgave our sins and filled us with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Obedience to this truth alone frees us from the burden of sin in this world. Then we may live fully, rejoicing with God who purified our souls so that we may have genuine mutual love and love one another deeply from the heart.

With this deep felt love we go out to spread the Good News! Rejoice with God for the world’s salvation. For as Peter proclaimed, “the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”

And I saw full surely that ere God made us He loved us;
which love was never slacked nor ever shall be.
And in this love He hath done all His works,
and in this love He hath made all things profitable to us,
and in this love our life is everlasting."
– Julian of Norwich

Loving tenderness abounds for all
from the darkest
to the most eminent one beyond the stars,

Exquisitely loving all
she bequeaths the kiss of peace
upon the ultimate King.

- Hildegard von Bingen, 1098 – 1179

Prayer Concerns

For all Mothers
That God may grant them a blissful satisfaction in the nurture of their children

For all Women
That God would protect them from domestic violence, sexual assault, exploitation and human trafficking

For your Church, O Lord
That it may continue to raise up women to lead the church and proclaim of God’s word

For our Mother Earth
That we may care for it as we would care for our own mothers

For victims of natural disasters
As a mother hen gather’s her chick, wrap them in wings of your love and compassion, O Lord

For an end to violence in our world
Help your people resist the path of hatred and destruction and feel the peace of Christ this Easter Season and at all times

QUOTE

O what a miracle is the presence of the divine heart
which foretold all creation.

With God's gaze upon the face of man,
whom He formed,
He saw His entire works,
reflected in that same human form.

O what a miracle is this inspiration
by which humanity was awakened

- Hildegard von Bingen