3 Easter Day/Year C Sermon/May 4, 2025
Acts of the Apostles 9:1-20; Psalm 30; John 21: 1-19
(Rev Julie Platson)
Opening Prayer (Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion)
Living Lord, you meet us in unexpected places and surprise us with the abundance of your love. Feed us by your Word always, fill us with your Spirit so that we may follow you this day, and always; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior. Amen.
I wonder at what point we would not be “surprised” by Jesus’ abundant love and meeting us in unexpected places?
I mean surprises can be good and wonderful…and I’m grateful for those times, when I get a glimpse of those moments when he does show up…just at that time I was wondering…How long, Lord…how long must your people suffer, endure hardship, face times of unrelenting, real fears…How many nights, Lord, must your people spend weeping, before joy visits them in the morning…How long, Lord will it be…until all your people are restored to life, and filled with the joy of your loving presence that can always be found in the everyday, expected places and circumstances of our lives…
The scripture readings today, give us some stories about people being surprised and transformed in seeing and experiencing the presence of Jesus…people being surprised that he shows up and meets them where they are…in the midst of their denials, persecution of others, in the midst of their grief, and wondering what to do next…
And Jesus says and does, what he’s been telling them, all along… “Follow me”… he’s not really telling them anything new today…he’s meeting them where they are today…walking along the road, fishing… and using words and stories and actions to help open the “eyes of their faith”…in the midst of their familiar places…Perhaps hoping that this time…they will really get it…that they will see and experience the abundance of God’s love in their ordinary, broken places of their lives…And that this love and its’ power to transform lives is not to be saved for special surprises now and then…or in unexpected places…
It's for every day… “Follow me”…says Jesus…I will show you the way…I will show you a way, when their seems as though there is no way…you might not see it right away…but stay with me…I have told you, I have shown you…and I’m here again right now…today…in the midst of all that is going on…
Sit here awhile with me…lets share a meal together…lets rest a while…
Let me begin again…Jesus says…
Following me…in walking the way of love looks like this:
Feed and tend to one another…the young and the old…care for one another in body and spirit; feed one another in body and spirit; be present to one another in body and spirit; encourage one another, in body and spirit; listen to the cries of the most vulnerable among us, in body and spirit; advocate for one another, in body and spirit…
Be assured, Jesus says, that following me…in walking the way of love means that I am there with you…all the time, all the time…ready to feed and tend to your body and spirit, as you in turn do the same for one another…
God’s way of love, as revealed to us in Christ Jesus…is for the body and spirit of all God’s people...It’s meant to be shared in all those places that seem so out of the ordinary…those unexpected places…
So, that one day…God’s kingdom will come here on earth, as it is in heaven…
So, that one day… all of God’s creation, all of God’s people are reconciled to one another and restored to life, and filled with the joy of the Lord’s loving presence that can always be found in the everyday, expected places and circumstances of our lives…
What small thing could you do this next week to bring that vision closer to fruition?
Prayer/Hymn: (LEVS) 157 – We Praise thee, O God – (v2 & 4)
2 We praise thee, O God,
For thy spirit of light,
Who has shown us our Savior,
And scattered our night.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory, Hallelujah! Amen,
Hallelujah! Thine the glory, Revive us again.
4 Revive us again, Fill each heart with thy love,
May each soul be rekindled, With fire from above.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory, Hallelujah! Amen,
Hallelujah! Thine the glory, Revive us again.