Change, Risk, and Making Things New
Free Version- The Sixth Sunday of Easter- Acts 16:9-15; Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29
(Photo: Stained glass of Paul and Lydia in Philippi’s St Lydia chapel) .
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In all three readings, we hear the stakes of following Jesus. It means that everything changes, everything is risked, and everything is made new.
In our Acts reading (Acts 16:9-15), we hear of the apostles following the Spirit into new Gentile territory, carrying the good news that the Gentiles are not excluded from being part of the family of the resurrected Jesus. They do not need to take on more cultural baggage to be part of the family of God. Yet, the journey into Philippi will be anything but smooth sailing. The culture of the city is deeply entangled by competing allegiances, including the worship of Caesar. We hear of Lydia, a woman of wealth and prestige, a god-fearer whose heart is opened by the good news of Jesus. Her life is so altered, it changes how she uses her wealth and her home becomes a place of Spirit-empowered hospitality.
Our Revelation reading (Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5) reminds us of our great hope. We can trust in the day when the dark entanglements of our cities and the frustrations of our relationships will be no more. Everything will be healed by the water of life and the leaves from the tree of life. Our relationship with God will be a face-to-face one, and we will be clearly identified as his own. We will be be able to see things clearly, without the cover of darkness. Because God will be our light.
In our gospel reading (John 14:23-29), Jesus speaks to his disciples of the relational nature of his calling. He is not just teaching them precepts, but inviting them into something deeper. This relationship requires commitment, trust, and obedience. But they will not follow this path alone. The Holy Spirit will teach them and remind them of everything which Jesus has said to them.
In Christ, there is a new peace, a new wholeness which is different from anything that can be experienced in the world. We are reminded of the unity within the Trinity. The Creator of the universe is also the one who draws close, and the one who reminds us of all the important things.