We continue in the Easter season with readings appropriate for the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord. The assigned Gospel reading from Luke 24:36-49 appears to be Luke’s version of the initial post-resurrection visit by Jesus to his disciples, which we heard last Sunday from John 20. If that is the case, Luke’s narrative…
Saint Thomas Sunday: A Rookie Anglican Guide
The Sunday after Easter is also called “Saint Thomas Sunday.” This Sunday, we read the story of the apostle Thomas, his doubts about the news of the resurrection, and his confession of faith when Jesus showed him his wounds. It is a day to acknowledge skepticism and celebrate belief. Most importantly, Saint Thomas Sunday is…
Today in the Spirit: Easter 2B
The seven Sundays after Easter Day (including Pentecost Sunday) is the space the church uses to walk the believing community through Jesus’ resurrection appearances as revealed in the NT or his important teaching delivered before his death about living life by his resurrection power. The bulk of this material is found in Luke and John,…
Death, Be Not Proud: A Reading of John Donne’s Holy Sonnet X
“Death, Be not proud,” also known as Holy Sonnet X, is John Donne’s great poem in mockery of Death. Composed in 1609, the poem was published posthumously in 1633. It is fitting that Donne got the final word, laughing at Death from his grave. The power of the poem is its reversal of our experience….
Today in the Spirit: Easter Day B
“Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!” At no time is the thrill of shouting out this acclamation greater than on Easter Day. “Enter then, all of you, into the joy of your Master. First and last, receive alike your reward. Rich and poor, dance together. You who have fasted and you…
Today in the Spirit: Pentecost Sunday A
“Pentecost Sunday already!?” While this might be our reaction each year to the arrival of this feast day at the midpoint (more or less) of the church year, we can only imagine the disciples who were ordered by Jesus to go to Jerusalem and wait until you are clothed with power from on high (Luke…
Today in the Spirit: The Sunday after the Ascension A
The Sunday after Ascension Day is the seventh Sunday of the Easter season (just as Pentecost Sunday is the eighth Sunday of Easter), but you will find that nowhere in the BCP 2019 is this Sunday referred to as Easter 7. The designation Sunday after Ascension Day is a change from the BCP 1979 back…
Today in the Spirit: Easter 6A
Easter 6 Sunday every year is the last before Ascensiontide, the ten-day period between the remembrance of Jesus’ Ascension on the Thursday following this Sunday and Pentecost Sunday. Picking up on the language of John’s Gospel, which is our focus in the Easter season, the petition of the Collect is “for those who love you”…
Today in the Spirit: Easter 5A
On Easter 5 Sunday the church continues down the path of presenting the teachings of Jesus Christ which make the most sense to his followers only after the Resurrection. Many of these are the I am statements found in John. Last week’s Gospel reading on Good Shepherd Sunday included two of these: I am the…
Today in the Spirit: Easter 4A (Good Shepherd)
Easter 4 every year is Good Shepherd Sunday. The Collect and most of the readings through the entire three-year cycle on this day make explicit reference to God as the shepherd of his people. The Collect addressed to the Father God names Jesus Christ as “the Good Shepherd” and the followers of Jesus as the…
