SUNDAYS OF EASTER: Words of Abundant Life
The seven Sundays of Easter--a week of weeks--offer an abundance of time to deepen our experience of the resurrection. Each Sunday brings us words, images, and experiences of the resurrected Jesus from the gospel of John (with one Sunday from the gospel of Luke).Each Sunday we’ll also read from the First Letter of John--a book that is related to, but not to be confused with, the gospel of John. First John is a letter in the form of a testimony--a witness of faith by a community of early Christians whose beliefs were deeply rooted in the understanding of the gospel of John.John’s gospel is all about abundant life. Life green and rich. Life overflowing and plentiful. Life healthy and whole. Life in community and joyful. A life full of love. Life everlasting and free.“In the Word was life, and that life was humanity’s light”“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”“God so loved the world that God gave the Only Child, that whoever believes may not perish but have abundant life”In this season of Easter, Jesus’s words of life (the words of The Word) to the disciples are renewed for us. The risen Jesus speaks words of peace, abundance, intimacy, community, friendship, and promise. These words speak abundant life into being for us. April 11 | “Peace be with you” Second Sunday of Easter1 John 1:1--2:2 | Walking in the lightJohn 20:19-31 | Beholding the wounds of the risen Christ April 18 | “Have you anything here to eat?”Third Sunday of Easter1 John 3:1-7 | The revealing of the children of GodLuke 24:36b-48 | Eating with the risen Christ April 25 | “I know my own and my own know me”Fourth Sunday of Easter1 John 3:16-24 | Love in truth and actionJohn 10:11-18 | Christ the shepherd May 2 | “Abide in me”Fifth Sunday of Easter1 John 4:7-21 | God’s love perfected in love for one anotherJohn 15:1-8 | Christ the vine May 9 | “I have called you friends”Sixth Sunday of Easter1 John 5:1-6 | The victory of faithJohn 15:9-17 | Christ the friend and lover May 16 | “I have sent them into the world”Seventh Sunday of Easter1 John 5:9-13 | Life in the Son of GodJohn 17:6-19 | Christ’s prayer for the disciples May 23 | “I still have many things to say to you”Day of PentecostEzekiel 37:1-14 | Life to dry bonesActs 2:1-21 | Filled with the Spirit to tell God’s deedsJohn 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 | Christ sends the Spirit of truth