Resurrection is NOW!
Can be listened to here
Gate Pa – Easter 4 2016 (Year C)
Readings:
Psalm
Psalm
23
First
Reading: Acts 9:36-43
Second
Reading: Rev
7:9-17
Gospel: John 10:22-30
What I want to say:
Easter is a time for us to reflect on what
resurrection means for us in our daily living and our joining in mission of
God. Dorcas helps us in this task
What I want to
happen:
People to grow as people of love
and generosity towards all.
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
Alleluia – Christ is Risen
Christ
is Risen indeed, Alleluia
We continue our march through Easter.
This week
to
help us in this journey
we
are given story of Dorcas/Tabitha
which is important story
In book Acts
How
many women are filled with the Holy Spirit?
How
many women disciples are named?
one – Dorcas (Tabitha) and we hear
her story
what do we know about her?
not
a lot
name
lived
life of service to others – maybe at cost to own health and wellbeing?
while
often portrayed as poor widow
possible she was woman of some
substance
–
seem had an upper room
upper
rooms denote some wealth
average person no have resources for
upper room
suggested that she understood that she was a
person privilege
–
through her wealth and position
as
disciple both carried responsibility to others
as
disciple was gift to share.
û widows
û orphans
û homeless
û the hungry
û sick
û those pushed to edges and marginalised
ð freely and generously gave
She acts as a model for us
as we continue to reflect on what Jesus’ resurrection
means for us
2. Easter and Resurrection
Season of Easter lasts for 49 days
Easter
Sunday until day before Pentecost Sunday – 50th Day
why cross made at Easter still up
front
why we light Christ candle each week
Easter is about resurrection
celebrates Jesus resurrection
gets pretty hard celebrating week after week
can
tell from dying enthusiasm for (Christ is Risen Alleluia)
more than just remembering and celebrating
though
Easter reminds us that Jesus’ physical resurrection
is God’s commitment
to
THIS world
and
ALL who live in it
not want to get into the science of
resurrection
but do want to focus on theology of it
heart of Christian faith
Death and resurrection of Jesus
are
Gods extravagant gift of love
fulfils all hopes and longings held in
creation
and
in people of God in the covenant
held in all hopes imbedded in various
understandings of Messiah
when history reaches its climax
creation restored
all drawn into life offered by God
big
huge
so often try to make it small enough to manage
limiting
it to life after death for example
50 days reminds us that resurrection of Jesus is
world changing
cosmos
changing event
3. Recap and Good Shepherd
to recap what heard so far this Easter to help
us
heard story of empty tomb,
Mary
Magdalene was first to both see and report
that she had seen the risen Lord
then we heard about Thomas, who asks the
questions we ask
Peter, whose deep shame was met by risen Jesus’
unconditional love
all life changing in present
each
changed how saw themselves
how
saw God
how
saw world
how
lived their lives
4. Good Shepherd Tradition
Today we hear Jesus apply Good Shepherd Tradition
to himself
tradition
that starts with 23rd Psalm – which said/sang
23rd Psalm is important
not only for what it says
starting point of significant tradition within
scripture
tradition of good shepherd
talked about last year on this Sunday
tradition
that is reinterpreted number times
give
hope and meaning to new situations
for example expanding 23 psalms one sheep
to
flock – representing all people God
to eventually all people
eventually this tradition becomes attached
hopes for coming Messiah
When God – shepherd will act with compassion
->
seek out and restore people God
restore
all people.
Tradition Jesus then picks up
seen in each gospels
Luke 10 – stories lost sheep, lost coin, lost
sons
Matthew 18 – lost sheep
Mark 6 feeding of 5000
finally here John 10:
each reinterpretation intensifies that tradition
offered to us during Easter
as
way to help us understand resurrection of Jesus the good shepherd
to help us see God at work through Good Shepherd
so that we might know that
In
the death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, the Christ
we
are being restored
all
of life is being restored
5. Resurrection is Now
Central piece of this tradition around Messiah
was that at end this age
God’s messiah
gather
up people God
restore
them to land
rebuild
temple
bring
in age peace and justice
God’s
peace and justice
For Gospel writers and Paul
Jesus is fulfilment of that hope
He is one gathering all people to God
Death is seen as outrageous act love reopens
our eyes
opens
our ears
we are able to see who we are
able to recognise voice God in our lives
live in hope that this fulfilment is happening
around us.
6. Dorcas
role of Dorcas for us today is to show us what
it looks like when we live our lives in the reality of Jesus’ resurrection.
She lived with the same generosity she had experienced
from risen Jesus
She lived responding to voice of God she heard
in risen Jesus
knowing that that was who she truly was
She lived
not
fearing death
not
shunning this life
filled with a generosity that allowed
others to see and hear
she was filled with life now
eternal life
lived now
we are invited to join her
be people of the resurrection
we are invited to join with all saints
be people who show
everyday acts of generosity and love
generosity
and love to all people
God’s commitment to this world
and all who live it!
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