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2nd Sunday of Easter

As we think about the second week of the Easter season, we want to carry the energy and intensity that we entered Easter season. Clearly we have the risen Christ making cameo appearances in some of the most unexpected places-at Solomon’s Portico through a bunch of untrained laymen, through visions that come to the author of Revelations, behind locked doors and in personal encounters. Let these passages live in your thoughts over the coming days and listen to them for their sheer beauty and other-worldliness.

PSALM 150-SHEER PRAISE

While most psalms of praise are guided by benefits recalled or interlaced with petition, Psalm 150 is sheer praise, nothing else-few benefits are recalled, no supplications, no prayers for vindication, or not even an encomium to nature’s beauty-just sheer praise. This psalm is appropriate during the Easter season as we wonder at the grain of wheat that has fallen into the earth and died, yet provides "much fruit." We are invited to praise God in a variety of ways-trumpets, lute, harps, tambourine, dance, strings, pipe, clanging and clashing cymbals, and of course, with our very breath.

ACTS 5:27-32-CONTINUING THE STORY

In this lesson the apostles taste some of the passion of the Christ as they are confronted by the Sanhedrin Council and questioned by the high priest. At issue is the routine of gathering at the temple-Solomon’s Portico-and passing on the teaching of Jesus. The Council resents being made the scapegoat for Jesus’ death and are aggravated that his followers continue to teach about Jesus’ sayings, presumably much of what Jesus had spoken while with them. Peter’s repartee to the high priest’s charge has echoed down through the centuries in state/church wars: "We must obey God rather any human authority" (v. 29).

REVELATION-1:4-8-THE FAITHFUL WITNESS

Like Psalm 150, this lesson is doxological; it praises and offers worship to Jesus Christ through the naming of titles conveyed-faithful witness, firstborn of the dead, and ruler of the kings of the earth. The doxology also connects the worshiper through these words back to the stories surrounding the resurrection of Jesus and embedded in "The Apostle’s Creed"-crucified, dead, and buried . . . on the third day he rose again." But the piece also moves forward into the future-"Look! He is coming with the clouds . . ." (v. 7).

JOHN 20:19-31-PEACE BE UNTO YOU

This post-resurrection story not only includes the story behind the "doubting Thomas" phrase that is part of our American speech, but it also includes the story of the doubting apostles. The writer begins to bring closure to his gospel by revealing the purpose that has driven the writing of the Fourth Gospel-"Now Jesus did many other signs . . . these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name" (v. 31).