• 31 John Donne, Priest, 1631was an English poet, satirist, lawyer and a cleric in the Church of England. He is considered the pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets. April • 1 Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, 1872 • 2 James Lloyd Breck, Priest, 1876 • 3 Richard, Bishop of Chichester, 1253is a saint (canonized 1262) who was Bishop of Chichester • 4 Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Leader, 1968 was an American clergyman, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. • 5 Pandita Mary Ramabai, Prophetic Witness and Evangelist in India, 1922 • 6 Daniel G. C. Wu, Priest and Missionary among Chinese Americans, 1956 FIRST READING: Acts 10: 34 - 43 (all) Acts 10:34 (NRSV) Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." h/t Montreal Anglican The setting is the house of Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Regiment, part of the military occupation force in Palestine. Cornelius, already a believer in God, has had a vision (vv. 1-8). As a result, he has invited Peter to visit. It is against Jewish law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile, but Peter comes anyway, with “some of the believers from Joppa” (v. 23). The Greek here is rough, full of grammatical errors, unlike the rest of Acts, so we may well have Peter's unedited words. He tells the assembled company that God does not favour Jews over others: anyone, whatever his nationality, who reveres God and lives in unison with him “is acceptable to him” (v. 35). In vv. 36-38, Peter summarizes Jesus’ earthly ministry; he applies prophecies found in Isaiah 52:7 and 61:1 to Christ. (Psalm 107:20 says “... he sent out his word ...”) Christ is Kyrios, “Lord of all” (v. 36). In baptism, the Father “anointed” (v. 38) Jesus “with the Holy Spirit” and with the “power” of God (but he was already integral with God’s very being.) The good news (“message”, v. 37) spread throughout Palestine (“Judea”); he “went about” (v. 38) “doing good” and combatting evil, doing deeds so powerful that it is clear that he was God’s agent: he is a model for all to follow. He suffered death as one guilty of a capital offence, per Deuteronomy 21:23: he hung on a “tree” (v. 39) and was cursed. (By Jesus’ time, the “tree”, a pole, had acquired a cross-arm.) But, although cursed, the Father “raised him” (v. 40) and “allowed him to appear” to those chosen by God – to be “witnesses” (v. 41). In Luke 24:41-43, Jesus eats broiled fish with them, so he was clearly humanly alive again, i.e. physically brought back from death, resurrected. Jesus, the Kyrios, is the one appointed by God to set up the Kingdom and to judge both those who are alive, and those who have died, at Judgement Day (v. 42). Then v. 43: he fulfills many Old Testament prophecies: he is the one through whom sins are forgiven. Forgiveness is now available to “everyone who believes”, not just to Jews. Verse 34: “God shows no partiality”: Literally: God is not one showing favours, an allusion to Deuteronomy 10:17, which denies that God favours particular persons or accepts bribes. [JBC] BlkActs says that the Greek word is found only in Christian writings but is coined from an expression in the Septuagint translation, which translates a Hebrew expression for lift up the face, i.e. favour. It denotes the gracious act of someone who lifts up a person’s face by showing him a favour (see Malachi 1:8). In Romans 2:11, Paul writes “God shows no partiality”. [JBC] Verse 35: “does what is right”: Literally: practices righteousness. [JBC] Verses 36-43: This sums up the gospel, beginning with the baptism of John and ending with the statement that Christ is judge: see 3:20-21 (Peter’s second sermon). [NOAB] Verse 36: “preaching peace”: This traditional eschatological prophecy, based on Isaiah 52:7 and 61:1, was applied to Jesus’ ministry with redoubled emphasis in Luke’s gospel (7:22; 4:17-20) and Jesus’ commissioning of his disciples as “peace” harbingers was prominent in his mission instruction (Luke 10:5-6). Verse 36: “he is Lord of all”: To be understood in the light of Romans 10:12: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.”. [NJBC] Verse 37: “the baptism that John announced”: See also 1:22 and Luke 3:2-3. [JBC] Verse 38: “God anointed Jesus”: See also Luke 3:22 (Jesus’ baptism) and 4:14. [NOAB] An allusion to Isaiah 61:1. Jesus’ investiture with the power of the Holy Spirit. This does not say that Jesus became Messiah at his baptism. Acts 2:36 and 3:12-20 suggest an entirely different understanding of Jesus’ messiahship, as does the Infancy Narrative (see Luke 1:32-33). Jesus is the spirit-filled agent of God’s saving activity. [JBC] Verse 39: “by hanging him on a tree”: A figurative expression for crucifixion, derived from Deuteronomy 21:23-24: “When someone is convicted of a crime punishable by death and is executed, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse must not remain all night upon the tree; you shall bury him that same day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God's curse ...”. See also 2:23; 5:30; Galatians 3:13. [JBC] Verse 40: “on the third day”: See also 1 Corinthians 15:4 and Hosea 6:2 (“After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him”). [JBC] Verse 40: “allowed him to appear”: NJBC offers gave him to be manifested. Verse 41: “chosen”: Jesus was seen only by those chosen: see Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8, 22. [NOAB] Verse 42: “commanded”: JBC offers commissioned. Verse 42: “judge of the living and the dead”: 17:31 says that God “has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead”. See also 1 Peter 4:5 and 2 Timothy 4:1. [NOAB] Verse 43: This verse is a complete reprise of Luke 24:44-48. [NJBC] Verse 43: “All the prophets testify about him”: See Isaiah 2:2; 40:5; Joel 2:32; however, a scholar wonders to which prophets Peter is referring. Verses 44-48: In Acts, believers usually receive the Holy Spirit at baptism (2:38; 19:5-6), or before baptism (as here), but in 8:15-16 they receive it after baptism, and only when the apostles visit. Isaiah 65: 17 - 25 (alt. for RCL) Isai 65:17 (NRSV) For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; Or [sudden terror]} for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD-- and their descendants as well. 24 Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent--its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, qsays the LORD. PSALM 118: 1 - 2, 14 - 24 (RCL) 118: 1 - 2, 16 - 17, 22 - 23 (Roman Catholic) Psal 118:1 (NRSV) O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever." 14 The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. 15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly; 16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly." 17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. 18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. 21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 118 Confitemini Domino (ECUSA BCP) 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; * his mercy endures for ever. 2 Let Israel now proclaim, * his mercy endures for ever. 14 The Lord is my strength and my song, * and he has become my salvation. 15 There is a sound of exultation and victory * in the tents of the righteous: 16 "The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! * the right hand of the Lord is exalted! the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!" 17 I shall not die, but live, * and declare the works of the Lord. 18 The Lord has punished me sorely, * but he did not hand me over to death. 19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; * I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord. 20 "This is the gate of the Lord; * he who is righteous may enter." 21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me * and have become my salvation. 22 The same stone which the builders rejected * has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord's doing, * and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 On this day the Lord has acted; * we will rejoice and be glad in it. SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 15: 19 - 26 (RCL) 1Cor 15:19 (NRSV) If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. 21 For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; 22 for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, Or [Then come the rest]} when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Colossians 3: 1 - 4 (Roman Catholic) Colo 3:1 (NRSV) So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Acts 10: 34 - 43 (alt. for RCL) [If not previously used; see above for text] 1 Corinthians 5: 6b - 8 (alt. for Roman Catholic) 1Cor 5:6 (NRSV) Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. GOSPEL: John 20: 1 - 18 (RCL) John 20: 1 - 9 (Roman Catrholic) John 20:1 (NRSV) Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbou'ni!" (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" 18 Mary Mag'dalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her. Luke 24: 1 - 12 (alt. for RCL) Luke 24:1 (NRSV) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Mag'dalene, Joan'na, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. Early on Sunday morning, before dawn, Mary Magdalene (witness to Jesus’ death and burial) comes to the tomb and finds that the “stone” door has been rolled back, so she and those with her (“we”, v. 2) tell “Peter” (v. 4) and “the other disciple” (v. 4, traditionally thought to be John) that they suspect that someone has removed the body. The “other disciple” apparently younger, outruns Peter (v. 5). But the orderliness of the “cloth” (v. 7) and “linen wrappings” shows that the body has neither been stolen nor spiritualized. John, when he sees, comes to trust (“believed”, v. 8) that God is active; by implication, Peter does not understand yet. They do not yet understand the significance of what is occurring (v. 9), of how it fits into God’s plan, because they have not yet received the Holy Spirit. Mary, still thinking that the body has been moved, has returned to the cemetery. In her grief, she sees “two angels in white” (v. 12), heavenly messengers. She recognizes Jesus when he calls her by name. But something has changed: they are in a new relationship: “do not hold on to me” (v. 17). To John the evangelist, Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, exaltation and return to heavenly glory, his ascension, are parts of a single event. The parallels are Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; John 20:1, 11-18. [NOAB] Verse 1: “at early dawn”: The powers of darkness (see 22:53) give way to the light of the dawn of Jesus’ victory over death, as Zechariah foretold in the Benedictus: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (see 1:78-79). [NJBC] Verse 4: “two men in dazzling clothes”: In Acts 1:10 (the Ascension) and 10:30 (Cornelius), Luke calls angels men. There are also two at the Transfiguration (see 9:29-30). Lightning frequently expresses some kind of heavenly or unearthly visitation in Luke’s writings: see also 10:18; 11:36; 17:24; Acts 9:3; 22:6 (at Paul’s conversion). [JBC] Verse 6: In 9:22, Jesus tells his disciples: “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” and in 13:32-33 he tells some Pharisees: “Go and tell that fox [Herod Antipas]for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem’”. [NOAB] Verses 6,8: “Remember ... remembered”: The meaning of the Greek word, mimneskesthai, is more than mere recollection of the content of a previous conversation. Mimneskesthai is to bring to bear in the present, with power and new and deepened insight, the meaning of past actions and words in salvation history. This Greek word is also found in this sense in 1:54 (Mary, in the Magnificat), 72 (Zechariah, in the Benedictus); 23:42 (one of those crucified, to Jesus); Acts 10:31 (Peter, to Cornelius); 11:16 (Peter “remembered the word of the Lord ...”). Luke uses related words in 22:19 (the institution of the Eucharist); 22:61; Acts 17:32; 20:31, 35. [NJBC] Verse 6: “you”: This suggests that Jesus’ disciples as a group often included others than those of the inner circle. [NOAB] Verse 7: In 9:44, Jesus has prophesied: “‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands’”. [NJBC] Verse 7: “Son of Man”: Jesus saw himself as the fulfilment of the Old Testament, especially the Son of Man and Servant Songs of Isaiah. Verse 8: “remembered”: The revelation of Jesus’ vindication gives new meaning and power to the women’s recollection of Jesus’ words. [NJBC] Verse 9: The sequence in Matthew 28:8 differs. The actual sequence cannot be worked out. Each account is a separate summary of early Christian testimony to the facts of Jesus’ resurrection. [NOAB] Verse 9: “told”: NJBC says that the Greek word, anengeilan, means more than told. Proclaimed is a better translation. It is found frequently in the gospels and Acts. [NJBC] Verse 10: “Mary Magdalene, Joanna ...”: For women who were followers of Jesus, see also Mark 16:1 (“Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome”); Luke 8:1-3 (“some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, ... and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward ... and Susanna, and many others”); John 19:26 (Jesus’ mother); 20:1. [NOAB] Verse 10: “Joanna”: In Mark 16:1, it is Salome. A Joanna is mentioned in Luke 8:3. [JBC] Verse 11: “an idle tale”: JBC translates the Greek as nonsense. [JBC] Verse 11: “did not believe them”: See also Mark 16:10-11 (Mary Magdalene tells of seeing the resurrected Jesus), Mark 16:14; Matthew 28:10, 17 (of the eleven disciples “some doubted”); John 20:18, 24-25, 29 (Thomas). NJBC says that Luke uses the same verb here as he does in Acts (e.g. 28:34) to declare the negative response to the Christian proclamation. Verse 12: This verse is in some early manuscripts but not in all (e.g. the Western Text). Some scholars consider that this verse is an addition based on John 20:3-10; others accept it as authentic, because: • v. 24 depends on it, • it is in the most reliable manuscripts, and • it is consonant with Lucan theology. [NOAB] [JBC] Verse 12: “what had happened”: The Greek is a general phrase also found in 23:47 (“When the centurion saw what had taken place ...”), 23:48 (“... when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place ...”) and 24:18 (“‘... Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’”). © 1996-2013 Chris Haslam