The reading for today are the continuation of the Easter narratives:Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31This Sunday is the Second in Easter, April 11th 2010 sometimes called Low Sunday
We are at the business end of the Gospel
because, in the end, the resurrection is what it is all about.
In this passage from John 20:19-31 that we read today
we encounter a lot of important ideas.
So it is worth taking time this week to go through the whole passage.
Today I am only going to look at the beginning:
Jesus says Peace. Jesus says I send you with this peace.
Jesus says I equip you to do this by giving you the Holy Spirit
And, this peace which you are to share through the Holy Spirit is about
Forgiveness.
The resurrected Jesus brings peace.
This peace that we are talking about is the peace -shalom-that permeates the First Covenants
It is not only about the absence of war
It is about wholeness of life.
This is the life God wants us to have...abundant life, eternal life.
God wants a life for you and me
that is better than what we want for ourselves.
If you wonder what you are supposed to do with this
then this is The Good News that we are to share with others.
Key to this is the promise that forgiveness
can be a reality:
Forgiveness by God of those things we have done wrong
The capacity to forgive other people
and the openness to seeking the forgiveness of those who we have hurt.
Lest we think this is a tall order
Jesus also tells us....you do not have to do this in your own strength
but Receive the Holy Spirit of God to let you do this.
Today, as you worship and pray
Pray particularly for God's Holy Spirit
to enable you to receive
abundant life
to exercise forgiveness
to forgive
and to seek forgiveness.
Peace be with you
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