I  was in the hospital for two weeks and missed posting. My apologies. Everything is better now. Welcome back.

·  10 Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, Prophetic Witness, 1760 is commemorated as a hymnwriter and a renewer of the church

·  13 Frances Perkins, Public Servant and Prophetic Witness, 1965

·  16 Martyrs of Sudan. Ancient Nubia was reached by Coptic Christianity by the 2nd century. The Coptic Church was later influenced by Byzantine Christianity. From the 7th century, the Christian Nubian kingdoms were threatened by the Islamic expansion, but the southernmost of these kingdoms, Alodia, survived until 1504.

FIRST READING:  Acts 10: 44 - 48   (RCL)

                                 Acts 10: 25 - 26, 34 - 35, 44 - 48   (Roman Catholic)

Acts 10:25 (NRSV) On Peter's arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him. 26 But Peter made him get up, saying, "Stand up; I am only a mortal."

34 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.

44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

Isaiah 55: 1 - 11   (alt. for C of E)

Isai 55:1 (NRSV) Ho, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

3 Incline your ear, and come to me;

listen, so that you may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples.

5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,

and nations that do not know you shall run to you,

because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you.

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found,

call upon him while he is near;

7 let the wicked forsake their way,

and the unrighteous their thoughts;

let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return there until they have watered the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

PSALM 98   (RCL)

Psalm 98: 1 - 4   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 98:1 (NRSV) O sing to the LORD a new song,

for he has done marvelous things.

His right hand and his holy arm

have gotten him victory.

2 The LORD has made known his victory;

he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness

to the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the victory of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;

break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,

with the lyre and the sound of melody.

6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn

make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

the world and those who live in it.

8 Let the floods clap their hands;

let the hills sing together for joy

9 at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming

to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness,

and the peoples with equity.

98   Cantate Domino     (ECUSA BCP)

1          Sing to the Lord a new song, *

     for he has done marvelous things.

2          With his right hand and his holy arm *

     has he won for himself the victory.

3          The Lord has made known his victory; *

     his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.

4          He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, *

     and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

5          Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; *

     lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.

6          Sing to the Lord with the harp, *

     with the harp and the voice of song.

7          With trumpets and the sound of the horn *

     shout with joy before the King, the Lord.

8          Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *

     the lands and those who dwell therein.

9          Let the rivers clap their hands, *

     and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord,

     when he comes to judge the earth.

10         In righteousness shall he judge the world *

     and the peoples with equity.

SECOND READING:  1 John 5: 1 - 6   (RCL)

1Joh 5:1 (NRSV) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

1 John 4: 7 - 10   (Roman Catholic)

1Joh 4:7 (NRSV) Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

H/T Montreal Anglican

All who believe that “Jesus is the Christ” (vv. 1, 5), the saviour of the world who offers forgiveness of deviations from God’s ways, have been adopted as children of God. All who love God (“the parent”) also love his or her fellow believers: this love is a dimension of God. The mark of loving God and obeying him is loving our fellows (v. 2). Loving God implies that we obey him (v. 3); this is not “burdensome” for us, being God’s, for we have the power to overcome evil. It is through our faith in God that we are victorious: we believe that “Jesus is the Son of God” (v. 5): this is the very core of our faith. As people come to Christ, so God’s power is shown more widely in the world. Some dissidents may have accepted that Jesus was baptised (“came by water”, v. 6) but rejected his very human agony on the cross (“blood”); however , but he experienced both baptism and crucifixion. The Spirit witnessed both these events; he is continually present as the soul of the Church, the continuation of Christ’s action in the world. In vv. 7-8, the author tells us that three things jointly “testify” that Jesus is Son of God:

·  “the Spirit”, at work in the community,

·  baptism (“water”), and

·  the crucifixion and/or the Eucharist (“blood”).

Verse 1: “everyone who loves the parent loves the child”: A conventional maxim which repeats the association between love of God and love of fellow Christians from 4:20-21: “... The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also”. [ NJBC] See also John 8:42. [ NOAB]
Verse 3: In John 14:15, 21, after the Last Supper, Jesus says “‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments ... They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them’”.
Verse 3: “not burdensome”: In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light’”. See also Philippians 4:13. [ NOAB]
Verse 4: “conquers the world”: has conquered is also a possible translation. In John 16:33, after the Last Supper, Jesus tells his followers: “‘I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’”. [ NOAB]
Verse 4: “the victory that conquers the world, our faith”: 2:13-14 says “... you have conquered the evil one ... the word of God abides in you ...”. The victory over the world was won when Christians were converted. The “word of God is the source of this victory, a share in the victory won by Jesus. 4:4 says: “... you are from God, and have conquered them [the evil forces in the world]; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” [ NJBC]
Verses 6-12: The affirmation that belief is the source of eternal life is expanded in two directions:

• belief must include his coming in water and blood;
• belief in the Son is grounded in God’s own testimony. [ NJBC]

Verses 6-8: “not with the water only but with the water and the blood”: In John 1:31-32, John the Baptist testifies that the revelation of Jesus as pre-existent Son is linked to the descent of the Holy Spirit and to baptism. In John 3:34 and 7:38-39, Jesus' sending is associated with the boundless gift of the Holy Spirit. The dissidents may have associated salvation and the coming of the Spirit with water (baptism) and not with blood (crucifixion). [ NJBC] John 19:34 says “... one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.” [ NOAB] John 19:35 may have been added to emphasize that this conviction about the death of Jesus about the death of Jesus goes back to the beloved disciple: “(He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.)”. [ NJBC]
Verse 9: “the testimony of God”: The claim that God is the real witness to Jesus derives from the controversies in the gospel of John. Those who reject Jesus’ testimony about his relationship to the Father are confronted with lists of witnesses: see John 5:31-40; 8:14-19, especially 5:32, 36; 8:18. [ NJBC] [ NOAB]
Verse 10: “have the testimony in their hearts”: Several passages in the gospel of John speak of the ways in which the believer could be said to “have testimony”. God is responsible for a person’s believing response to Jesus: see John 6:44 and 10:3-4. The Spirit/Paraclete dwelling within the community serves as witness (John 14:16) and also enables the community to witness to the world (John 15:26-27). [ NJBC]
Verses 11-12: “eternal life” is “in” (living union with) Jesus, God’s “Son”, and nowhere else. John 1:4 says: “in him was life, and the life was the light of all people”. See also John 3:36; 5:24-26; 6:57; 20:31. [ NOAB] The theme that the Son has been sent to give life to those who believe runs through the gospel of John. [ NJBC]

GOSPEL:  John 15: 9 - 17  (all)

John 15:9 (NRSV) As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Jesus continues to prepare his disciples for his physical departure from them. He has told them that he is the “true” (v. 1) vine, the Father’s agent, and that they are the “fruit” (v. 2), “the branches” (v. 5). They represent him in the world – to bear fruit, to do in his name. This is how God’s power will be extended among humans.
He has loved them as the Father has loved him; they are to continue to love him, by being obedient to his “commandments” (v. 10); he has been obedient, even to death on the cross. He continues to be in a loving relationship with the Father. This kind of love leads to “joy” (v. 11), ultimate joy. Jesus, the model for our behaviour, loved us so much that he gave his life for us, his “friends” (v. 13).
To be a servant (v. 15) of God was an honour in Old Testament times, but a servant was not normally admitted to the counsel of his master while “friends” were: his disciples know all that the Father has told him. Jesus has taken the initiative in choosing them and appointing them to seek converts who will be deeply and lastingly committed to him (v. 16).

Verse 1: “true”: BlkJn offers real as a translation.
Verse 9: The continuance of the disciples’ relationship with Jesus depends on them keeping the bond of mutual love unbroken. Love entails obedience. In 14:15, Jesus says: “‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments’”. 3:35 tells us: “The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands” and 13:34 “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another”. The past tense is used in the English translation but the aorist tense is found in the Greek original. The aorist here indicates what is timelessly true. [ BlkJn]
Verse 10: Christian love has for its example Jesus the good shepherd (see 10:1-16). 1 John 3:16 says “We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us – and we ought to lay down our lives for one another”.
Verse 10: “ I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love”: For Jesus’ keeping of his Father’s commandments, see also 8:28-29. [ BlkJn]
Verse 11: “my joy”: This verse makes the transition to Jesus’ death as the highest example of love by invoking the theme of “joy” from 14:28: “ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I”. [ NJBC]
Verses 12-17: Fellowship with Jesus (vv. 14-15), fruit bearing, and prayer (v. 16) are all dependent on obeying his “commands” (v. 17) to “love”. [ NOAB]
Verse 13: Believers are expected to aim for the measure of love Jesus showed in giving his life for the community.
Verses 12-17: The reader has already seen the love that Jesus has for his “friends” demonstrated in the story of the raising of Lazarus: see 11:3, 11, 36. [ NJBC]
Verse 15: Philo, the almost contemporary Alexandrian Jewish philosopher, speaks of “the wise” who are “friends of God” and not “slaves”. Here the tradition of being “friends” is applied to all who believe. In 13:16, Jesus calls his disciples “servants” or slaves (Greek: doulos), and in 12:26 diakonos (translated “servant” in the NRSV.) [ NJBC]
Verse 15: “I do not call you servants any longer, ... but I have called you friends”: Today, being a friend does not involve obedience but in the ancient world it could do. For example, in 1 Maccabees 2:18, the king’s officers are called “Friends of the king”. Some slaves obeyed out of fear; friends obey out of love. [ BlkJn]
Verse 15: “I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father”: This statement appears to be in conflict with 16:12-14: “‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you’”, but:

• The verbs can be taken as timeless aorists (see above), and
• What the Holy Spirit tells us is to be understood, not as new revelation, but as new insight into revelations already given. [ BlkJn]

Verse 16: “You did not choose me but I chose you”: A notion also found in 6:70 and 13:18. Earlier parts of the gospel link salvation and believing, but here the stress is on bearing fruit as the result of receiving the new status as “friend”. [ NJBC]
Verse 17: “these commands”: “Command” in v. 12 is singular. Here Jesus is probably speaking of all that he has taught his disciples, all of which together will lead to mutual love. [ BlkJn]