Fifth Sunday of Easter, Cycle C
The texts selected for Easter 5 in The Revised Common Lectionary are indicative of a transition from emphasis on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as a saving action for a limited number of his followers to sharing the message of salvation within a much broader arena. The Johannine Jesus in John 13:31-35 requires that his followers must love one another after he departs from them, just as he has loved them. Within a vivid literary drama in Acts 11:1-18 Peter in ecstasy in a vision is shown and convinced that the saving action of God in Christ must be shared as a gift from God to people beyond the community of initial followers of Jesus. It must be shared not merely with people who have a “clean” Jewish background, but also with non-Jewish background people whom Peter had previously considered to be impure and unclean. In the vision of the new heaven and new earth after the oppressive Roman Empire and all wicked people have been removed, it is acclaimed in Revelation 21:1-6 that God will live among God’s people in a situation in which there will no longer be any pain, mourning, weeping, and death. During a much earlier period, this had also been the ideal situation depicted by the writer of Psalm 148, a messianic age in which all the angels of heaven, all of the creatures and elements of God’s creation, and all people, men and women, young and old will praise the name of the Lord.
Fourth Sunday of Easter, Cycle C
There is a message of confidence and assurance in each of these four texts chosen for Easter 4 in Series C.
Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle C
A major unifying factor for each of the texts selected for Easter 3 in Series C is the theme, “The Redeemer Revealed.” The Lord (Adonai) is, of course, the Redeemer revealed to the distressed psalmist in Psalm 30. The Lord (Jesus) raised from the dead is the Redeemer revealed to Paul in Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), the Redeemer revealed as the Lamb who was slain in Revelation 5:11-14, and as the Host in a shared meal in John 21:1-19.
Second Sunday of Easter, Cycle C
The message that we must proclaim next Sunday in this Series C is expressed succinctly in the words of the Johannine Jesus in John 20:29b. Within the words, “Blessed are the ones who have not seen and have believed nevertheless,” we find our identity in this text. Here again the Easter message is a strong invitation to faith. By focusing on this message we shall have a strong sequel to Easter Day. We shall begin our consideration of these texts for Easter 2, therefore, with John 20:19-31.
