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2nd SUNDAY OF
EASTER
We’re on familiar ground in our lessons for the day. Familiar as
an old sweater, as Fred Craddock might say. The first lesson can well
stand on its own--an early sermon that provides insight into how
Christians thought about the resurrection of Jesus. The second lesson
and the gospel lesson could easily be in conversation with each other.
Both speak to the same general idea of the substance of hope and faith
that nourishes Christians.
Psalm 16
This psalm is an exemplary song of trust. The
psalmist describes God as Ultimate Source—who is our refuge, the
Giver of all good things, the Worthy One before whom all lesser gods
aren’t even worth an honorable mention, the Source of human life and
the Mentor of our souls. Thus delight, confidence, and joy emerges
from this upbeat psalm that is especially fitting for the season of
Easter.
Acts 2:14a; 22-32-But God Raised Him Up
In this week’s first lesson we’re sitting in the pew and
listening to Point II of Peter’s Pentecost sermon. He has begun the
proclamation by defending the holy chaos of Pentecost with Scriptural
citations, and now in Point II, he moves to three common features of
early Christian preaching-the exordium (reason for the speech),
the witness concerning Jesus, and the paranesis (summons
to repentance / forgiveness). This is the first of three sermons that
Peter preaches in the book of Acts (2:14-36, 40; 3:12-26; and
10:34-43). No need to quibble over whether these are Luke’s words or
the actual words of Peter; what’s more important is how the early
Christian community framed their proclamation of Jesus.
1 Peter 1:3-9-More Precious Than Gold
Hope springs eternal! The substance for Christian hope, however, is
in Christ’s resurrection. The lesson points out the benefits that
the great event has made possible: an imperishable inheritance
awaiting us in the future, protection in the present of personal faith
of Christians, even in the face of trials and tribs. This passage
complements the gospel story in John 20 about the kind of faith that
doesn’t require primary evidence: loving Christ even though unseen,
believing and rejoicing for the salvation wrought by Christ, though
unseen. Such was apparently a challenge to the young church of the
first century: how to bolster and stabilize belief in a God unseen and
a Christ materially absent.
John 20:19-31-What is Truly Sufficient for Faith?
Today’s gospel lesson raises a question early formed by
thoughtful Christians: what is sufficient for saving faith? The story
of Thomas who initially was not privy to a personal interview with the
resurrected Christ has been many of our stories down through the
Christian timeline. The story draws us to “word,” comfort, doubt,
and skepticism. We may even suspect a mild strain of anti-Docetism in
the story-a strong connection between the material and the spiritual
entities of Christ. However we understand the story’s function, its
placement suggests that the story was meant to supply a climax to this
gospel. Faith without seeing, trust without personal interview.
