The
First Reading: Acts of the Apostles
10:34-43
This short passage is part of a long story (Acts 10:1—11:18) about how
the Gentiles came to be understood as having the same relationship with Jesus
as his fellow Jews. The apostle Peter and the gentile Cornelius have both had
visions causing them to seek each other out. When Peter meets Cornelius in the
latter’s own house (a line observant Jews were not to cross), he experiences
the Pentecostal Spirit at work among them just as he and his fellow disciples had
experienced it. This leads to the following declaration. It is a testimony to
the power of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection.
10:34 Peter began to speak to Cornelius and
the other Gentiles: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him
and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You
know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus
Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That
message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that
John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who
were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in
Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and
allowed him to appear, 41 not to
all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and
drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He
commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained
by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All
the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives
forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Or this
The
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:1-6
Jeremiah is known as “the gloomy prophet,” but in
chapters 30 through 33, his tome changes, even so that these chapters are known
as “The Book of Comfort.” What may seem as a throw-away opening verse is
actually good news for a people who have felt abandoned by God while in exile
in Babylon. Jeremiah calls on the old
memory of the Exodus wilderness to make a statement about God’s continued
presence with his people. Verses 4 through 6 acknowledge Israel’s current
plight by use of the threefold “Again…again…again.” The time of exile, a dramatic break in
well-being for Israel, will be overcome by the Lord who has never abandoned his
faithfulness.
31:1 At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the
families of Israel, and they shall be my people. 2
Thus says the Lord:
The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel
sought for rest, 3 the Lord appeared to him from far away. I
have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my
faithfulness to you. 4 Again I will
build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your
tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. 5 Again you shall plant vineyards on the
mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit. 6 For there shall be a day when sentinels will
call in the hill country of Ephraim: “Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.”
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1
Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good; *
his
mercy endures for ever.
2
Let Israel now proclaim, *
“His
mercy endures for ever.”
14
The Lord is my strength and
my song, *
and
he has become my salvation.
15
There is a sound of exultation and victory *
in
the tents of the righteous:
16
“The right hand of the Lord
has triumphed! *
the
right hand of the Lord is exalted!
the
right hand of the Lord has
triumphed!”
17
I shall not die, but live, *
and
declare the works of the Lord.
18
The Lord has punished me
sorely, *
but
he did not hand me over to death.
19
Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I
will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord.
20
“This is the gate of the Lord;
*
he
who is righteous may enter.”
21
I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and
have become my salvation.
22 The
same stone which the builders rejected *
has
become the chief cornerstone.
23
This is the Lord’s doing, *
and
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24
On this day the Lord has
acted; *
we
will rejoice and be glad in it.
The
Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4
These four verses are a bridge used by Paul in this letter, which
summarizes the argument that has come before it and leads into the section of
ethical imperatives that follow. “If”
here is not a conditional word, it connects the text to the end of chapter 2,
and, in that context, clearly assumes that “you have been raised.” The mystery
of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection is a theme of Colossians, emphasized
here by use of the word “hidden,” which is also used at 1:26 and 2:2-3. The
Greek word used has the definite connation of “hidden in safety.”
3:1 So if you have been raised with
Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right
hand of God. 2 Set your minds on
things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden
with Christ in God. 4 When Christ
who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Or this
The
Second Reading: Acts of the Apostles
10:34-43 (see above)
Gospel
Reading: John 20:1-18
The Gospel-writer John’s witness
to the empty tomb and the initial experiences of the risen Jesus centers on
Mary Magdalene, who, on account of this story in particular, is sometimes known
as “the Apostle of the Resurrection.” Mary is the first to tell the other
disciples, who themselves come to the tomb, but do not remain. Mary, in her
grief, does not leave and so has the first encounter with the risen Jesus. Why
she does not recognize him is a matter of much speculation, as well as Jesus’
admonition to her not to hold on to him. Whatever the meaning, Mary again
becomes the first witness, “I have seen the Lord.”
20:1 Early on the first day of the
week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the
stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So
she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus
loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do
not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then
Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other
disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5
He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there,
but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon
Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings
lying there, 7 and the cloth that
had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a
place by itself. 8 Then the other
disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the
scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then
the disciples returned to their homes. 11 But
Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into
the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels
in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and
the other at the feet. 13 They said
to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away
my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around
and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you
weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said
to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him,
and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus
said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which
means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to
her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But
go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your
Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary
Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she
told them that he had said these things to her.
Or this
Gospel
Reading: Matthew 28:1-10
In all the Gospel accounts of
the discovery of the empty tomb (there is no actual story of the resurrection per se), it is women, led by Mary Magdalene who
are the first witnesses. Because of this Mary Magdalene is often called the
“Apostle of the Resurrection.” Matthew often tells a story which includes some
response of creation, and here we get a report of an earthquake (there had
already been one reported at the moment Jesus’ died—see Matt. 27:51-54, but
also 8:24 and 24:7). The Gospel writers disagree as to where the
post-resurrection appearances take place:
Matthew says Galilee, Luke says Jerusalem, and John first one and then
the other (there are no such stories in Mark). The worship of Jesus (v. 9) is
unique to Matthew—he clearly believes that it is the correct response to the
risen Lord.
28:1 After the sabbath, as the first
day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the
tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a
great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and
rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His
appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became
like dead men. 5 But the angel said
to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was
crucified. 6 He is not here; for he
has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He
has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee;
there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and
great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly
Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his
feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then
Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to
Galilee; there they will see me.”
The
Scripture quotations (except for the psalm) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ
in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.
All rights reserved. The Collect
of the Day and the Psalm translation are from The Book of Common Prayer. Commentaries
are copyright © 2017, Epiphany ESources, 67 E. Main St., Hornell, NY 14843, www.epiphanyesources.com. All
rights reserved. Permission granted to copy for group study with attribution.
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