Sermons

Third Sunday of Easter
Sunday 30th April at 10am

Kathryn Elliott
Readings: Acts 3.12-19; Luke 24.36b-48

The Church does not exist just to transmit a message across the centuries through a duly constituted hierarchy that arbitrarily lays down what people must believe; it exists so that people in this, and every century may encounter Jesus of Nazareth as a living contemporary.

I quote from the Easter Day sermon of Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. It's a wake up call for us! We, who on Easter Day announced Alleluia. Christ is risen! Are a community of people who are a part of Jesus' worldwide Church - we exist so that people in this and every century may encounter Jesus of Nazareth as a living contemporary. But perhaps that is more easily said than accomplished.

What prevents people from experiencing Jesus' risen presence in our society and culture? Our readings suggest two possibilities:

Firstly fear: the disciples were, according to John's account of our passage from Luke, behind locked doors on that late Sunday evening, afraid of the Jewish authorities. Indeed, at that time, they were a group of bereaved, shaken and confused people, shattered by the news of the empty tomb which the women had shared with them earlier that morning.

Secondly, lack of understanding can prevent the full reality of Jesus' resurrected presence: Luke tells us that Jesus opened the disciples' minds to understand the scriptures; before his death, he had already explained that their Hebrew Old Testament depicted the suffering of the Messiah and his rising on the third day (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53**) that had had to be fulfilled; the disciples hadn't fully understood. Now Jesus explains again and understanding dawns.

Certainly, Peter articulates his grasp of the scriptures as he takes the opportunity to speak to his fellow Israelites in our Acts reading, and Peter recognises their lack of insight:
Now my fellow Israelites, I know that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was due to your ignorance. God announced long ago through all the prophets that his Messiah had to suffer… Repent then and turn to God so that he will forgive your sins. (Acts 3. 18-19)

So then, fear… lack of understanding… these can affect us too. Various daily life situations give rise to fear and apprehension: illness, work overload, lack of work, family circumstances, tiredness… we can be fearful of what the future may hold and fearful of the new… all have the potential to rob us of the knowledge of Jesus' personal presence.
Fear of our own inadequacy at sharing the Gospel - of being lost for words - come prevent someone we know from knowing Jesus.

And our knowledge of the scriptures? Do we read our Bibles regularly, according to our circumstances? And if we do, do we have head knowledge alone or are we prayerfully open to the guidance of Jesus' Holy Spirit… willing to have our minds opened to understand the scriptures in a fresh way?

We notice in today's Bible passages that Jesus came into those situations of fear and lack of understanding.
-In Luke, Jesus steps right into the very situation in that locked room.
-In Acts, Jesus' power and presence comes through two disciples, Peter and John.
-In the midst of bewilderment, sadness and fear Jesus speaks Peace be with you, and the disciples experience joy and wonder.
-Into a lame man's situation came strength in Jesus' name.
-Into people's lack of knowledge came Jesus' clear teaching through Peter and John, a calling to return to God.
-And into our circumstances, Jesus will certainly come. Peace be with you are his words for us and he invites us: Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them and they will eat with me
(Rev 3.20)

On this second Sunday after Easter, let's rejoice in Christ's real resurrected presence and peace, with the same joy as we did on Easter morning. Let us welcome his peace into our circumstances; may our understanding of the scriptures increase and may we worship and work together so that others encounter Jesus of Nazareth because
As we gather for this sacrament of Holy communion, it is not the memorial of a dead leader conducted by one of his duly authorised successors… it is an event where we are invited to meet the living Jesus as surely as did his disciples on the first Easter Day. (Archbishop Rowan Williams: 16.4.6)

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay