Scripture Reading: Acts 2:32 – 47
Scripture Reference –
Acts 2:43″ Everyone was filled with awe, at the many wonders
and miraculous signs that were done by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common.”
and miraculous signs that were done by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common.”
Here is an eye witness account of His Story which stands to inspire to the end of the ages!
Later historians do not attempt to capture the details of the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, as St. Luke does. But then, two distinct purposes are seeking expression here. The reason later historians undertake the writing of the event is to record the natural response to something which they perceive to have had a beginning and an ending. Luke’s concern, on the other hand, is to document the spiritual impact on individuals by heavenly stimuli, which as such, has a beginning but as yet has no discernible ending!
Later historians do not attempt to capture the details of the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, as St. Luke does. But then, two distinct purposes are seeking expression here. The reason later historians undertake the writing of the event is to record the natural response to something which they perceive to have had a beginning and an ending. Luke’s concern, on the other hand, is to document the spiritual impact on individuals by heavenly stimuli, which as such, has a beginning but as yet has no discernible ending!
One can never hope to understand the Easter event by a simple reading of some curt phrase about ‘ something out of the ordinary that happened.’ By comparison, Luke’s account contains a haunting likelihood that this something may well happen to you, the reader. The Easter event has been carried into every successive generation to be a “Living Presence” in the world. In this unique way, it is unlike any other incident recorded in history. The Easter event has kept breaking out of every tomb which the world assigned to be its final resting place!
Men, who had grown fearful and timid under the threats of a bullying world, squared their shoulders and went out to meet the most horrible deaths in the Roman arenas, defiantly chanting, ” The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth, Jesus, the Lord is victorious!” And that became a defining fact to complete the full record of the Easter event! Herein is found the reason for the sense of awe prevailing everywhere following the pronouncement,” Now is Christ risen from the dead.”
It is detrimental to the future of this once vibrant religion, which once did stir people to be involved in such daring acts, for us to observe how in this modern-day that same religion creeps at snail pace toward its tomb. But yet, it is not enough for us merely to observe the facts of history that are beginning to pave the way to the ending of the Easter Event, which God intends to be Eternal! The need in this hour is for men and women to permit themselves to become caught up in the power of Jesus Christ risen from the dead, and not to be afraid of being seen as participants in the awesomeness that was everywhere in the early church! The present situation demands a response from every single individual. Are you going to permit the Easter Event to be locked in the tomb of ancient history, as something that had a beginning but long since has also had an ending? Or is it your witness that the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is something that happened, and is still happening (to you), and will go on including your children and their children forever?
The Easter event keeps on happening! Easter, when it is faithfully celebrated still brings a sense of awe everywhere! People’s better selves imprisoned within, burst forth to bless the world; defeated ones overcome by painful memories of what they might have been, awake to welcome the springtime of renewed hope, and become messengers of God’s renewal to the thousands held in the death grip of endless winter!
How different the outcome for our churches, now lumbering forward with leaden steps, if Christians choose to engage, with sincere trust, the Christ Who invites them to share in the Power of His Resurrection! The world appears dull and grey while waiting for something significant enough to claim its allegiance; youth await someone big enough to demand their full commitment. Can we pretend not to know Him still?
T.S. Eliot’s’ “Murder In The Cathedral” captures for me, in a most compelling way, the power of Christ’s Resurrection, which I long to see emulated in the church of today.
The archbishop, Thomas Becket, following an extremely bitter dispute with King Henry 11, some years previously, now returns from exile to assume his position, as the Archbishop of Canterbury Cathedral. The unforgiving king craftily plans the Archbishop’s assassination soon after his return. When the king’s assailants arrive at the doors of the Cathedral to perform their dastardly deed, the priests, fearing the outcome, bar all the doors to protect their Archbishop.
It is detrimental to the future of this once vibrant religion, which once did stir people to be involved in such daring acts, for us to observe how in this modern-day that same religion creeps at snail pace toward its tomb. But yet, it is not enough for us merely to observe the facts of history that are beginning to pave the way to the ending of the Easter Event, which God intends to be Eternal! The need in this hour is for men and women to permit themselves to become caught up in the power of Jesus Christ risen from the dead, and not to be afraid of being seen as participants in the awesomeness that was everywhere in the early church! The present situation demands a response from every single individual. Are you going to permit the Easter Event to be locked in the tomb of ancient history, as something that had a beginning but long since has also had an ending? Or is it your witness that the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is something that happened, and is still happening (to you), and will go on including your children and their children forever?
The Easter event keeps on happening! Easter, when it is faithfully celebrated still brings a sense of awe everywhere! People’s better selves imprisoned within, burst forth to bless the world; defeated ones overcome by painful memories of what they might have been, awake to welcome the springtime of renewed hope, and become messengers of God’s renewal to the thousands held in the death grip of endless winter!
How different the outcome for our churches, now lumbering forward with leaden steps, if Christians choose to engage, with sincere trust, the Christ Who invites them to share in the Power of His Resurrection! The world appears dull and grey while waiting for something significant enough to claim its allegiance; youth await someone big enough to demand their full commitment. Can we pretend not to know Him still?
T.S. Eliot’s’ “Murder In The Cathedral” captures for me, in a most compelling way, the power of Christ’s Resurrection, which I long to see emulated in the church of today.
The archbishop, Thomas Becket, following an extremely bitter dispute with King Henry 11, some years previously, now returns from exile to assume his position, as the Archbishop of Canterbury Cathedral. The unforgiving king craftily plans the Archbishop’s assassination soon after his return. When the king’s assailants arrive at the doors of the Cathedral to perform their dastardly deed, the priests, fearing the outcome, bar all the doors to protect their Archbishop.
The following lines are quoted from the above-mentioned drama.
Thomas Becket, the Archbishop, and the Priests:
“Priests: Bar the door. Bar the door. The door is barred. We are safe. We are safe. The enemy may rage outside, he will tire in vain. They cannot break in. They dare not break in. They cannot break in. They have not the force. We are safe. We are safe.
Thomas: Unbar the doors! throw open the doors! I will not have the house of prayer, the church of Christ, The sanctuary, turned into a fortress. The Church shall protect her own, in her own way, not As oak and stone; stone and oak decay. Give no stay, but the Church shall endure. The church shall be open, even to our enemies. Open the door!
Priest: My Lord! these are not men, these come not as men come, but Like maddened beasts. They come not like men, who Respect the sanctuary, who kneel to the Body of Christ, But like beasts. You would bar the door Against the lion, the leopard, the wolf or the boar. Why not more Against beasts with the souls of damned men, against men Who would damn themselves to beasts. My Lord! My Lord!
Thomas: Unbar the door! You think me reckless, desperate and mad. You argue by results, as this world does. To settle if an act is good or bad. You defer to the fact. For every life and every act Consequence of good and evil can be shown. And as in time results of many deeds are blended So good and evil in the end become confounded. It is not in time that my death shall be known; It is out of time that my decision is taken If you call that decision To which my whole being gives entire consent. I give my life To the Law of God above the Law of Man. Unbar the door! unbar the door! We are not here to triumph by fighting, by stratagem, or by resistance. Not to fight with beasts as men. We have fought the beast And have conquered. We have only to conquer Now, by suffering. This is an easier victory. Now is the triumph of the Cross, now Open the door! I command it. open the door! ( 2)
Now it is your turn to open the door and to pass into a new experience of ” the triumph of the Cross”, and let your church, and by extension, the world attest to a renewed sense of awe everywhere!
A Prayer Which You Are Invited To Make Your Own
The whole creation heralds this Dawn! Church bells pealing their melodious invitation seem to strengthen the bonds between heaven and earth, this morning ; trees are bursting in anticipation of finding new leaves to rustle out their enchanting tunes; the mighty St.John River flashes in the sun, having been set free from its icy prison ; the blanket of snow, now through the touch of Your hand, moistens the lips of tiny seeds, encouraging them once again to burst into bloom.
Knowing this dawn to be different from all others, I feel the compulsion to surrender to the empowering mystery of this hour.
Thank You, Gracious Lord for tapping upon the door of my consciousness, and for inviting me to join with all creation in the Easter Celebration of New Life!
Jesus, I remember how on Good Friday, one of Your final acts from Your Cross was to make sure that Your Mother had a place to call home here on earth. You made sure that John, Your beloved friend, would discharge that sacred duty. You said to him, son, behold your mother. I desire now to fulfill my sacred duty anew, and on this present Easter morning, I offer You, my heart and my spirit to be Your Home here on earth! Grant me the Grace to fulfill this, my sacred duty! Amen
Hymn: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
Editorial Notes
1. The Scripture quotations are from the New International
Version.
2. T.S. Eliot. Murder in the Cathedral.
http://www.supersummary.com/murder-in-the-
cathedral/summary/
3 .Photo: The Arches National Park, Utah, USA.
