Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 14, 2006
BCP: Acts 8:26-40 or Deut. 4:32-40; Psalm 66:1-11 or 66:1-8; 1 John 3(14-17) 18-24 or Acts 8:26-40; John 14:15-21.
RCL: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:24-30; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8.
The collect for this celebration opens with the phrase, “Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life.” The wonder of resurrection awakens us to this hope of eternity, a hope in which we are confronted so powerfully with the sense of God’s presence that we may speak of coming to know him truly. In this knowledge, we continue our prayer, asking that we may likewise “know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life.” The risen Lord Jesus grants us who seek him knowledge that directs our path, enlightens our minds, and orders our existence. It is a knowledge that is less a matter of the mastery of information than it is a knowing of, a relationship of love with, another.
The passage from Acts read today gives the example of the Ethiopian eunuch who sought and obtained such knowledge. His consideration of scripture and his openness to inspired teaching led him to receive and accept “the good news of Jesus” that Philip proclaimed. By the witness of the prophetic word and the guidance of apostolic teaching, the eunuch came to know the risen Christ.
In the First Epistle of John, much is written about what believers may know. The 19th verse of Chapter 3 affirms, “we shall know that we are of the truth.” In Chapter 4, the inspired writer continues, “we know and believe the love God has for us.” This knowing is relational, having an awareness of a divine presence. “We know that we abide in him and he in us” (1 John 4:13). By the abiding presence of the Lord, we come to know him personally, faithfully, and, as 1 John makes abundantly clear, lovingly.
The gospel readings for today emphasize this abiding and this love. The verses of Chapter 14 tell of the gift of “the Spirit of truth” who “dwells with you and will be in you.” This gift of the counselor, Jesus says, is for the one “who loves me.”
The passage from the 15th chapter is similar teaching in a more imagistic fashion, speaking of Jesus, “the true vine” of which we who love him are the branches. In love he invites us, “Abide in me, and I in you.” By the Spirit’s dwelling with us, in the abiding of Jesus in us, we rejoice to know Almighty God truly; and knowing God, we celebrate the eternal life won for us by the death and resurrection of Christ our Lord.
Look It Up
Read the passages of 1 John appointed in both lectionaries, considering what is meant when a believer speaks of knowing God.
Think About It
List biographical information about your spouse or closest friend. What is missing that would be necessary to truly know him or her as a person?
Next Sunday
Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 21, 2006
BCP: Acts 11:19-30 or Isaiah 45:11-13, 18-19; Psalm 33 or 33:1-8, 18-22; 1 John 4:7-21 or Acts 11;19-30; John 15:9-17.
RCL: Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17.
