Today, we remembered the Feast Day of St. Mark the Evangelist (from Thursday) alongside the Fifth Sunday of Easter. There is much to learn from both observances. We began with a prayer remembering that Jesus is the way, the life, and the truth who will lead us on our journey to a deeper relationship with God. Our lesson from First John reminds us that we are called to abide with, to be related to, God and to love one another as God loves us. Our love is born in our relationship with others on the journey. The Psalmist sang a song often associated with the Passion and which reminds us of our connection to Christ in his crucifixion. The gospel from John serves as a reminder that we are branches on God’s vine – in the present as much as any other time. Our first lesson and the basis of today’s sermon was from the Acts of the Apostles, the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. The story is a counter to the ideal offered in the Gospel where God’s kingdom is dominant. We are reminded that we live in an imperfect world and share in ways that God and the Holy Spirit lead us. Our mission is to be ourselves and others to find wholeness in a broken world.
May the upcoming week be one where you find people who need to be loved and connected to God’s grace. I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:24-30; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8
https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/5-easter-sermon
