Greetings on the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Rogation Sunday where we remember God’s part in creation and our responsibility to sustain creation. It is also a day where we remember those who have mothered us through our life – whether mothers by blood or choice.
Our invitation to worship calls to mind the wonderful things which God has graciously given us and how we respond to God based on that grace. Our first lesson from the Acts of the Apostles relates Paul’s defense at the Areopagus as he critiques the Athenian’s wisdom. The psalmist sings a song which reminds us of God’s grace and our blessings as followers of God. The reading from the first letter of Peter offers a reflection of life lived in the world as countered by life lived for God, and where true blessings are found. The reading from John’s gospel relates Jesus reminding the disciples that, even when they feel like they are alone and afraid, the Holy Spirit touches their soul to remind them of Jesus’ presence and God’s grace.
We celebrate our nature, not the nature skewed by our interaction with the human world but our God-given nature. God has created us to live faithfully according to God’s presence as demonstrated by the love of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus asks us to love – not emotionally but as ones who are related to each other and to something greater than we can imagine. As we get “farther” from Jesus’ physical presence we are reminded that Jesus’ actions are our guide and the Holy Spirit leads us in the now, inviting us to keep an eye on nature as God’s creation.
How do you live love and be related to people who are also followers of God, even when they are different than you are? I invite your comments,
Les+
Lessons: Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:7-18; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21
Sermon link: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/easter-6-sermon-2
