The Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year A), May 1, 2005

BCP: Acts 17:22-31 or Isaiah 41:17-20; Psalm 148 or 148:7-14; 1 Pet. 3:8-18 or Acts 17:22-31; John 15:1-8

RCL: Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:7-18; 1 Pet. 3:13-22; John 14:15-21

The lessons in this Easter season have carried us through the conviction that Jesus was raised from the dead to realizing how the resurrection benefits believers. Now today’s lessons give believers the charge to share that message with others. It is evident that God’s primary plan for proclaiming the gospel is that believers are to carry the message to unbelievers. Few believers are converted by visions (as was Saul of Tarsus, for example) or their own study (as was C. S. Lewis, for example); the overwhelming majority of believers are converted because someone taught and lived the gospel and made it attractive.

Even Saul had “goads” he was resisting before he had his vision, and Lewis had many friends who spoke to him of Jesus. In today’s lessons, we have God’s promise that the Lord will answer the need of those who thirst “so that people may see and know … that the hand of the Lord has done it” (Isaiah 41:17,20). We begin the readings with the assertion that, first of all, it is God who will give the increase and bless the work of evangelists, and that those who thirst shall be satisfied.

Peter charges his listeners always to have their answer ready for people who ask them the reason for the hope that they have (1 Pet. 3:15). The teaching is given even in the context of possible persecution. However, though he speaks of the possibility of suffering (verse 17), he first says that “no one can hurt you if you are determined to do only what is right” (verse 13). In Acts, we have the account of Paul preaching the gospel to the Greeks in Athens. With consummate skill, he addresses in their own idiom those whose “one amusement … is to discuss and listen to the latest ideas” (Acts 17:21). Earlier Paul addresses the pagan Lyconians with images of providence through nature (Acts 14), and whenever he addresses Jews in the synagogue, he argues from the scriptures. He accommodates himself to people in all kinds of different situations, so that by all possible means he might bring some to salvation (1 Cor. 9:22).

Finally, in the gospel we have the powerful and much-loved image of believers being united to Jesus the way branches are connected to a vine. Yet it is clear that these branches are intended, because of that very connection, to “bear fruit.” Believers have no choice whether or not to be evangelists. Rather, our choice is whether we will do a good or a bad job of it.

Look It Up

Does the “praise” that is the overwhelming theme of today’s psalm selection have implications for the call to evangelism found in the other lessons?

Think About It

To whom have you personally borne testimony to the gospel? Has it become natural to you to bear testimony to the gospel at all times by both word and example?

Next Sunday

The Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year A), May 8, 2005

BCP: Acts 1:(1-7)8-14 or Ezekiel 39:21-29; Psalm 68:1-20 or 47; 1 Pet. 4:12-19 or Acts 1:(1-7)8-14; John 17:1-11

RCL: Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36; 1 Pet. 4:12-14; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11