Scriptures and Reflection Questions for May 2

5th Sunday of Easter, Year B

How to use this page:

Print this and read a different passage each day and think about it.  Some questions are offered to help stimulate your reflection.  You'll find your experience of worship on Sunday will be intensified.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading).  We've written some instructions on how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link: Using Lectio Divina to pray the lections

 
We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.
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The Collect

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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The Lessons

Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148
Revelation 21:1-6
John 13:31-35

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Acts 11:1-18

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, `Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' But I replied, `By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But a second time the voice answered from heaven, `What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."

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The Episcopal Church used this story as an illustration for the rest of the Anglican Communion when we explained our church's recent acts which have opened access for ordination to gay Christians?  Why do you think our church used this story?  Does the argument make sense to you?_________________________________________________________


Psalm 148  

Alleluia! Praise God from the heavens; *

sing praise in the heights.

Sing praise, all you angels; *

sing praise, all the heavenly host.

Sing praise, sun and moon; *

sing praise, all you shining stars.

Sing praise, heaven of heavens *

and you waters above the heavens.

Let them praise the Name of God, *

by whose command they were created.

God made them stand fast for ever and ever, *

and gave them a law which shall not pass away.

Sing praise from the earth, *

you sea-monsters and all deeps;

Fire and hail, snow and fog, *

tempestuous wind, doing God's will;

Mountains and all hills, *

fruit trees and all cedars;

Wild beasts and all cattle, *

creeping things and winged birds;

Rulers of the earth and all peoples, *

judges and all leaders of the world;

Young men and maidens, *

old and young together.

Let them praise your Name, O God, *

for your Name only is exalted;
your splendor is over earth and heaven.

You have raised up strength for your people

and praise for all your loyal servants, *

the children of Israel, a people who are near you. Alleluia!

St. Helena Psalter

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How do you see nature praising God? 
Have you had an experience of God's presence while you were in nature?  What happened?

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Revelation  21:1-6 

I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

For this reason they are before the throne of God,
    and worship him day and night within his temple,
    and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
    the sun will not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

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A vision of the new heaven and new earth.  God comes to the earth to dwell with us and to renew creation.  What does this vision tell you about how we should live now?  

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John 13:31-35

At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
 

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What words would you use to describe the kind of love that Jesus showed to his disciples?  Characterize his love.
How might you practice loving others as Jesus has loved us?