Words for the Week ~ June 4

Psalm 68:1-22  •  Acts 1:6-14  •  I Peter 4:12-5:11  •  John 17:1-11

This Thursday is Ascension Day. This is the day that we commemorate Christ’s return to the Father after his resurrection. Some may wonder why the ascension is important. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Jesus promises his Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God, when he “goes away”. (John 28:31) His departure signals the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the church. Right after the record of his ascension we have the story of Pentecost where the Holy Spirit comes upon those gathered in Jerusalem. (By the way, we are going to celebrate Pentecost in 12 days!)
2. Jesus’ ascension is one image of Christ’s exaltation. He is returning to God the Father and taking his rightful place in ruling the cosmos, and us.
3. Jesus’ ascension reminds us that he is human and remains so. Christ entered our world as a human person. He suffered on the cross and died as a man. The resurrection only makes sense if Jesus is raised a human person, a glorified human whose body is beyond corruption, but human nonetheless. Christ’s humanity is preserved in his ascension. Fully human and fully divine Christ now reigns as our Lord, and the Lord of all.

Words for the Week ~ May 28

Psalm 66:7-18 ~ Acts 17:22-28 ~ I Peter 3:13-22 ~ John 14:15-21

Every season is a time to celebrate resurrection. However, the early church showed a special kind of wisdom continuing their celebration of Christ’s resurrection from spring (Easter) through to summer (Pentecost). The burst of new life that we see in the flowers, blossoming trees, gardens, baby ducks and shorter nights all suggest resurrection, both Christ’s, that has passed, and our own, which is to come.

Crosses, icons, and religious art all help draw our imaginations to the work of God. One of God’s most creative icons is nature itself. Do you remember when Jesus said that, “the rocks will cry out?” (Luke 19:40)

Our passages for this week are all emblematic of what happens as a result of the resurrection of Christ. From Christ’s promise of the Holy Spirit (our Advocate or Paraclete) to Paul’s preaching to the Athenians to Peter’s words of encouragement that suffering can be endured because of the power of Christ’s resurrection which is symbolized in the waters of baptism.

May everything we see, everyone we meet, and all that we do draw our minds and hearts to the reality of Christ’s resurrection. We can daily proclaim, in words and deeds, the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again. Amen. 

Words for the Week ~ May 21

Psalm 31:1-16 • Acts 7:55-60 • I Peter 2:2-10 • John 14:1-14

This past weekend we examined four passages of Scripture that describe the church. Psalm 23 described the church as the one pursued by the “goodness and mercy” of God. Acts 2 described what the earliest, Jewish Christians did. I Peter 2 told the story of how the church trusted “the one who judges justly” empowering them to endure suffering. Lastly, John 10 describes the church as the sheep who hear the voice of their shepherd. (We are the ones who are to “tune in” to the voice of Jesus, the Shepherd.)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. – I Peter 2:9-10

This is another description of the church. It describes, through a metaphor that may be distant from our experience, what he intends for us to be and thus to do. This image has roots in the Exodus:

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; ⁶and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” – Exodus 19:5-6

What does it mean for you to be a Kingdom of Priests? How could understanding yourself as a part of such a kingdom affect your life?

Words for the Week – May 14

Psalm 23 • Acts 2:42-47 • John 10:1-10 • I Peter 2:19-25

Words for the Week – May 7

Psalm 116 • Acts 2:14a, 36-41 • I Peter 1:17-23 • Luke 24:13-36

Remember that we have moved from the season of repentance and reflection into a season of rejoicing! Together we proclaim the mystery of faith:  Christ has died – Christ is risen – Christ will come again!

The season of Easter is a perfect time to explore both the mystery of the resurrection and the meanings of the resurrection. Indeed, Christ is risen!