Sunday, May 8, 2022

Third Sunday after Easter

 The Collect

ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.


The Epistle (1 St. Peter ii. 11)

DEARLY beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.


The Gospel (St. John xvi. 16)

JESUS said to his disciples, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.


Easter III - Message in a Minute

At the beginning of today's Epistle, Saint Peter addresses the Christians to whom he is writing as strangers and pilgrims. That too is what is at the heart of Jesus' Gospel message. In this world, we Christians are in a sort of interim state.

We know our sins have been forgiven, but we know we are not yet perfect. We know that Jesus conquered death for us by rising from the grave, but it hasn't happened to us yet. God has promised us that we are going to heaven in the end, but we are, quite clearly, not in heaven yet. We are trapped in a state of being perpetually in between -- we are in the midst of a rather extended little while. We know it won't go on forever, but we still can't be sure just when it will end.

As far as the world is concerned, this is not our real home. In the deepest sense, we don't really belong here -- we are only strangers. We are not expecting to hang around here forever, either. We are pilgrims -- only passing through -- on our way to somewhere else. This life is exactly what the Book of Common Prayer says it is, transitory or passing away.

In baptism and confirmation Jesus gives us his Spirit to keep us going until the last little while has ended. His Spirit is the Holy Ghost -- the presence and power of God in our hearts, working on us from the inside to change us into exactly what he wants us to be, "No more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God."

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