A Look at This Sunday's Bible Lessons (May 4, 2008)

[Each week, I present some thoughts on the Bible lessons for the succeeding Sunday. In doing so, I hope to help the people of the congregation I serve, Saint Matthew Lutheran Church in Logan, to prepare for worship. And because, we will almost always use the appointed lessons for the Church Year, I also hope that these thoughts can help others prepare for worship too. These reflections are coming late in the week, for which I apologize.]

This Sunday's Bible Lessons:
Acts 1:6-14
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
John 17:1-11

The Prayer of the Day:
O God of glory, your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to your right hand. Unite us with Christ and each other in suffering and in joy, that all the world may be drawn into your bountiful presence, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Some Thoughts:
1. Tomorrow will bring the seventh and final Sunday of the Easter season. Next Sunday will bring us to the festival of Pentecost, celebrating the day that the Holy Spirit came to Jesus' praying followers, emboldening them to proclaim the message that all who repent (turn from sin) and believe in Jesus Christ will have everlasting life with God.

2. This past Thursday was Ascension Day. Falling forty days after Jesus' resurrection, Ascension Day recalls the day when the resurrected Jesus ascended to heaven. According to our first lesson from the New Testament book of Acts, Jesus told His disciples just before ascending, that they should go to Jerusalem and await the coming of the Holy Spirit, Who would empower them to share the message of Jesus in words, actions, and living. Ten days later, on the first Pentecost, Jesus' promise would be fulfilled when the Holy Spirit came to the praying disciples.

3. The "glory of God" is an important theme in all of the lessons for tomorrow. Closely related is the use of the term "clouds." In Old Testament times, as in the account of Elijah being taken up to heaven, and in, to cite one example, Luke's telling of Jesus' transfiguration, clouds descend from heaven; within them, the glory of God is manifest. Even in our lesson from First Peter, we're told that suffering for faithfulness to Christ manifests God's glory, replicating Jesus' giving of Himself for our redemption. When we suffer for our faith, Peter asserts, we participate in Christ's suffering and so, in His glory.

4. Psalm 68 is thought to be among the most ancient of the psalms in the Old Testament worship book. It's thought to be a kind of liturgical drama recounting God's faithfulness in moving His people from slavery in Egypt to the promised land. By recalling God's past faithfulness, we're inspired to trust God in good and bad times.

5. First and foremost, John 17:1-11, is a prayer by Jesus to the Father. We eavesdrop as He prays for His Church, including those of us who are part of the 21st.-century Church.

I derive great comfort, encouragement, and hope from knowing that, despite the odds, the Church continues to exist twenty-one centuries after Jesus prayed this prayer. The Church today is an answer to Jesus' prayers. In the spirit of Peter's words in our second lesson, I'm sure that Jesus is inviting us not only to participate in His sufferings today, but also to participate in His prayers, including the one offered in the Gospel lesson.