In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Christ has risen.
Christ has risen indeed!
THE EXSULTET
Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels,
and let your trumpets shout Salvation
for the victory of our mighty King.
Rejoice and sing now, all the round earth,
bright with a glorious splendor,
for darkness has been vanquished by our eternal King.
Rejoice and be glad now, Mother Church,
and let your holy courts, in radiant light,
resound with the praises of your people.
We pray to God the Almighty
for the grace to sing the worthy praise of his great glory;
through Jesus Christ His Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with Him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Lesson
Acts 7:55-60
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 In te, Domine, speravi
1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame; *
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Incline your ear to me; *
make haste to deliver me.
3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.
4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
for you are my tower of strength.
5 Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
for you have redeemed me,
O Lord, O God of truth.
15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me."
The Epistle
1 Peter 2:2-10
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:
“See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner,”
And
“A stone that makes them stumble,
and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia
Give thanks to the Lord, who is good.
The love of the Lord knows no ending.
All in Israel say,
“God’s love has no end.”
2. The right hand of God raised me up.
The hand of the Lord has triumphed.
I shall never die,
I shall live, telling God’s deeds.
3. The stone which the builders rejected,
becomes the cornerstone chosen.
Praise the work of God
for this marvel in our eyes.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia
By the way – music to these words should be familiar. It’s called “Celtic Alleluia.” So familiar – you might even want to sing it to yourself.
The Gospel
John 14:1-14
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
THE SERMON Fr. Nelson Gaetz
The first recorded use of the term Christian is to be found in the New Testament when Paul was brought by Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:26), but it did not have wide use until much later. At first those who believed in Jesus, the resurrected Messiah, were called “Followers of the Way.” In today’s Gospel reading we might fine out why. John’s Gospel seems to be built around what has been called a series of “I AM” sayings.
I am the Bread of Life (John 6)
I am the Light of the world (John 8)
I am the door (John 9)
I am the Good Shepherd ((John 10)
I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11)
I am the true Vine (John 15)
And of course, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14) that we find in today’s Gospel reading.
And a few other passages that shed light on what Jesus was getting at by calling himself “I AM.”
Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8). It’s easy to miss the massive scandal this was if you are not up on your Old Testament. Let me take you back to Genesis where Moses meets God on the mountain and he gets the 10 commandments, but he also is told what God’s name was. Names were important. They still are. When my kids were young and misbehaved they really knew when they were in trouble. Bob became Robert and then Robert Karl and finally “Robert Karl Gaetz.” When his mother* got to that point, it was time to go hide.
Names matter. “Hey, you” just doesn’t cut it if you want to get a child’s attention. So it was with gods. Knowing the god’s name meant you could get the god’s attention. But the name that was given to Moses was mysterious. In Hebrew, it really says “I am who I am.” Or better, “I am who I am becoming.” An action image. God, the real God, was not a passive image that could be captured in a statue (i.e. Make no graven Images) but a dynamic inter-relationship of personalities. An entity always being renewed, becoming new.
OK, heads spinning yet? But I wanted to help you understand how much deep meaning is held within these simple statements. In John’s Gospel, there is no way to miss his faith that Jesus was part of that “becoming” God. He was not just one with God. He claimed to BE God. And when the sentence of death for blasphemy was pronounced on him… he was guilty as charged.
Yikes, following His “way” was/is no longer optional. Not a wise outlook on good living, but GOD’S OWN TORAH (LAW.) This living on “the way” is not easy. It requires us to stay focused on God’s presence with us always pointing us ahead, in spite of the challenges. It has always been so, from Abraham, through Moses and the Exodus and on into our time. It interests me that modern “stories” often tell of this following the path in spite of danger. I am sure you Star Wars people know what I m thinking about.
There are lots of other examples. It’s all the rage these days. More recently, I have discovered a delightful kids fantasy/adventure movie with a brilliant scene making this point: ONWARD by Disney/Pixar. Two teen-aged elf brothers embark on a “quest” to resurrect their deceased father, who died when they were very young, for one day of conversation. As you would expect, there are many challenges but the most interesting is crossing a great Grand Canyon-type abyss. The younger brother manages to cross with encouragement by the older brother by stepping out, one step at a time, into the seeming impossible empty space between where they are and where they need to go.
(It’s great fun so if you have electronic access, and you surely have the time, I recommend you watch this little movie.)
FINALLY: This “way” of life that Jesus calls people to live is the very beginning of eternal life.
“I come that they may have life and have it abundantly (without end).”
Powerful stuff. Miraculous stuff. Joyful stuff.
Jesus is risen.
He is risen indeed.
Join him on “the way.”
On the “way” to eternal life.
Amen.
* A great Mothers Day theme. What better image of loving relationships than the love of a mother that we celebrate this Sunday. Thank your mother, or any mother, for helping us experience this “way,” if only as a pale reflection of Jesus eternal “way.”
THE NICENE CREED
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
THE PRAYERS
As newborn infants who long for the pure spiritual milk, so let us come before the Lord seeking His mercy with confidence that His grace will be sufficient for all our needs.
Brief silence
Almighty Father, everlasting God, Your Son has revealed You to us as a merciful Lord. Give to us Your Holy Spirit, that we may believe in Him whom You have sent and do the greater works He has told us we will do in His name. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, You have promised to build up Your Church to be a holy priesthood. Bless Your Church in all its forms and places. Bless Michael and DeDe, our Bishops, and Nelson, our Rector, and all who lead your church in this difficult and challenging time. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, Your power brought all things into being and still You preserve what You have made. Bless our president, the Congress of these United States, our governor, and all elected and appointed civil servants so that they may honor You and Your purpose, establishing order and justice, encouraging virtue. Give wisdom and moderation to them in their leadership for the well-being of all as we move into this new chapter of life in the shadow of the Covid-19 virus. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O merciful Father, You have compassion upon the sick and those in need and have promised not to ignore them in their afflictions. Turn back the pandemic across the globe and give us relief. Bless the sick with healing, those who suffer with strength and patience, and the dying with peace. Hear us on behalf of those we love and care for, especially …
(Spend some time here in prayer for specific people naming each one as you pray.)
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, You have established the home and blessed those who show us Your love. Bless all mothers and the children in their care. Help us find creative ways to honor mothers during this time of social separation. Bless all families, of whatever shape and form and make homes places of blessing and love, where Your Word is spoken, forgiveness reigns and love is displayed. Give us good examples to inspire youth to all that is good and pure, and to seek after these things. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, You have given us the wisdom of faith that through the Spirit we might know Your Son to be the way, the truth and the life. Bless all those who teach and all who learn, that the goal of our knowledge may be to know Christ and to make Him known. Do not let Your Word be bound, but let it have free course among us. Preserve those in isolation from idleness, and instead let our minds be renewed in Scripture and prayer. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We praise You, God, for Your goodness in hearing the prayers of Your people and granting us confidence to approach Your throne of mercy. Hear us now in the name of and for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, through whom, with whom and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is Yours, almighty Father, both now and forevermore. Amen.
So now we pray with confidence to the Father the words our Lord Jesus taught us.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
AN EASTER BLESSING
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do His will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in His sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Amen.
