Second Sunday of Easter. Year C 24th April 2022
Lectionary Readings: Acts 5 v27-32; Psalm 118 v14-29; Revelation 1 v4-8; John 20 v19-31.
“Receive the Holy Spirit.”
In John’s gospel, the risen Jesus met with the disciples on the evening of Easter Day. He breathed the Holy Spirit upon them and gave them the authority to forgive sins and the power to heal people.
You may be aware that John has been building up to this moment throughout his gospel. For example in chapter 7, John recalls the words of Jesus; “If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! Have faith in me and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the scriptures say.” Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone that had faith in him. The Spirit had not yet been given to everyone, since Jesus had not yet been given his full glory.* (John 7 v37-39).
* A footnote in my Bible says, ‘In the gospel of John, Jesus is given his full glory both when he is nailed to the cross and when he is raised from death to sit beside his Father in heaven.
That time had now come, Jesus had been given all authority and he now delegates some of that authority to his disciples. Certainly, the disciples were empowered from that moment on, as we read in the ‘Acts of the Apostles’. Peter and his fellow apostles performed many miracles and wonders among the people. (Acts 5 v12).
The apostles were not afraid to take the Temple leaders to task for their part in the death of Jesus.
“You killed Jesus by nailing him to the cross. But the God our ancestors worshipped raised him to life and made him our leader and Saviour. Then God gave him a place at his right side, so that the people of Israel would turn back to him and be forgiven. We are here to tell you about this and so is the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to everyone who obeys God.” (Acts 5 v30-32).
We are called to tell others the ‘good news’ of what God has done for us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, ‘the faithful witness’ (Revelation 1 v5b).
Hymn writer Jacqueline Jones asks the follow questions of us today, (Singing the Faith, 662 v1-4+c).
Have you heard God’s voice; has your heart been stirred?
Have you made a choice to remain and serve, though the way be rough and narrow?
Will you walk the path that will cost you much and embrace the pain and sorrow?
Will you trust in One who entrusts to you the disciples of tomorrow?
Will you use your voice; will you not sit down when the multitudes are silent?
Will you make a choice to stand your ground when the crowds are turning violent?
In the city streets will you be God’s heart? Will you listen to the voiceless?
Will you stop and eat and when friendships start, will you share your faith with the faithless?
Will you watch the news with the eyes of faith and believe it could be different?
Will you share your views using words of grace? Will you leave a thoughtful imprint?
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.