6 Easter Day/Year C Sermon/May 25, 2025 Acts of the Apostles 16:9-15; Psalm 67; John 14:23-29 (Written by Rev Julie Platson)
Opening Prayer (Feasting on the Word Worship Companion)
Living God, you sent your apostle to preach the gospel to women gathered by a river, in a secluded place of prayer. There a businesswomen named Lydia was led by the Spirit to hear your word as truth. You opened her heart in love, and she opened her home for the spreading of the gospel. By the power of your Holy Spirit, fling wide the doors of our hearts this day, as we hear your word of life, that we too may open our lives to serve your world in love; 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
The words in today’s gospel reading, are a healing balm for the soul.
A healing balm…that is available to all of us, as we learn to trust in Jesus’ promise of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, that would be sent after his leaving…a promise of the Holy Spirit to remind us of all that we have heard and learned from him…A promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us…to help us know and believe and trust…that God is always with us…the peace of Christ that the world cannot give, will always be with us…
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
In today’s gospel, Jesus is lovingly acknowledging and validating the disciples’ confusion, fears, and sorrow, as he has been preparing them for the time he would be leaving them, preparing them for the events that will be leading up to his death on the cross…preparing them for the news of his resurrection that would take place three days after his death…preparing them for the time that he must leave, so that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate could be sent, to deepen theirs (and our) relationship with him, and help us to be the hands and feet of Jesus now, bringing hope and peace and love as a healing balm to a hurting, broken, divided world.
Jesus’ words today about going away, are not meant to add more anxiety to our lives. They are an opportunity for us, to hold fast to the word of truth that Jesus has made known to us in the scriptures. To learn to trust, that all Jesus has been teaching us, showing us…has given us a pathway to healing and reconciliation with God, and one another. His teachings, and promises made to us, have revealed the love of God, the peace of God that surpasses all of our “logical” understanding…
We learn to trust in those promises and the call to walk in the way of love we have been shown through a lifetime of practice…by spending time alone and together with others, in prayer, listening for the Word of God spoken to us in the scriptures (through the power of the Holy Spirit), getting to know Jesus and the peace he can give that’s different from the peace the world gives, getting to know Jesus and the love he has shown us, that is often different than what the world teaches us, getting to know Jesus and the ways he has taught us to reach out and care for the most vulnerable, those on the margins, those who the world sometimes tells us…to exclude, instead of the radical welcome of God that says all people are worthy to be loved and cared for…and as our baptismal covenant reminds us of a few of Jesus’ core teachings…we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, and we are called to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being…
All of this is possible, with God’s help, with the gift of the Holy Spirit, to teach us, guide us, empower us, and strengthen us to show us the way, here and now, in this time, and in this place.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
Believing in Jesus’ words and his presence among us, in life and in death, can be a healing balm for us now that has the power to bring comfort and peace and hope in the midst of all our fears, confusion, and sorrows that come with being alive in this world. They are a healing balm for our souls that can strengthen us to do whatever we can, wherever we are, whenever we can, to bring hope and peace and love to as many people as we can, for as long as we ever can…
My prayer for all of us today, is that the Holy Spirit will fling wide the doors of our hearts, transforming us by the living word of life proclaimed to us in the hearing of today’s scriptures… so that we too, like Lydia, may open our lives and our hearts to serve God’s world in love.
Closing Prayer/Hymn: (H) 505 - O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God
1 O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God,
in every need thou bringest aid;
thou comest forth from God’s great throne,
from God, the Father and the Son;
O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God.
2 O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God,
increase our faith in our dear Lord;
unless thy grace the power should give,
none can believe in Christ and live;
O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God.
3 O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God,
make us to love thy sacred word;
the holy flame of love impart,
that charity may warm each heart;
O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God.
4 O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God,
enlighten us by that same word;
teach us to know the Father’s love,
and his dear Son, who reigns above;
O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God.