Weekly Bible Notes, 18th May 2003
Easter 5
Year B, White
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| First Reading: | Acts 8:26-40 | |
| Second Reading: | John 15:1-8 | |
| Commentary: | ||
| Meditation: | Giving and Receiving | |
| Prayers: | Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead |
Opening Verse of Scripture桺salm 148
Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
Collect Prayer for the Day桞efore we read we pray
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: grant that, as by your grace going before us you put into our minds good desires, so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
First Bible Reading
Acts 8:26-40Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.
The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"
Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and travelled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. (This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God)
Second Reading John 15:1-8
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (This is the word of the Lord - Thanks be to God)
Post Communion Prayer
Eternal God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life:
grant us to walk in his way, to rejoice in his truth, and to share his risen
life; who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen
Commentary: Challenges
The encounter between the Ethiopian traveller and Philip recounted in the reading from Acts, is a wonderful example of the collision of two cultures. Philip, a follower of the Lord Jesus from a Jewish background, met up with a high ranking financial advisor to the queen of the Ethiopians. Philip was just embarking upon what would be an exciting life of evangelism and travel, and this meeting, apparently a chance, one would kick-start him on his life抯 work. In fact the life-changing meeting was ordained by God, as we are told that an angel decided the direction that Philip抯 journey would take.
We have always tended to read the meeting from the perspective of what the Ethiopian learnt from Philip. Of course it was profoundly valuable for the Ethiopian, since it converted him to Christianity. But we can see that Philip too was changed by the stranger. Philip was challenged by the directness of the questions fired at him, and was forced to address deep questions about the faith. He might also have been thrown by the spontaneity and enthusiasm of the Ethiopian 揾ere is water, why shouldn抰 I been baptised here and now??
The encounter reminds us of the experiences of the wonderful Missionary women and men who have gone out across the world to spread the name of Jesus. When they get home, they are frequently scathing of the legalistic and solemn approach to faith here. What matters is the love and faith of Jesus?followers, not their ability to stick to traditions and formulas. As the Ethiopian challenged Philip, we must allow ourselves to be challenged by the people we encounter, perhaps children or those without faith, those who make us reassess the way that we conduct our mission and worship. Sometimes we must ask 搘hy do we do this? does this really advance the Kingdom or is it a rut that we have fallen into! Joan Crossley
Meditation: Giving and Receiving
As followers of Jesus we live in a relationship of love which we seek to share with others. This sharing of love is God's mission - our calling is to work in partnerships, based on trust and respect, offering mutual support. The nineteenth century idea that we should encourage people from other cultures to be just like us, the British, have now gone. The paternalistic model of mission abroad and at home has been replaced by one more mindful of the traditions of other societies and respectful of what is valuable within them. We now recognise that in giving to and interacting with mission partners, we are also fortunate recipients. St. Paul wrote to the Church in Rome: "I long to see you that I may impart some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." (Romans 1:11-12). So it is with the worldwide Church today - we have much to learn from each other and then to share with others.
Hymns (Mission Praise)
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Ye servants of God 784
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He抯 got the whole wide world 225
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What a friend we have in Jesus 746
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Take my life and let it be 624
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Thine be the Glory 689
Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead
We
pray, mighty God, for those who struggle that their life抯 flickering flame
may not be snuffed out. We pray for the poor and deprived, for those
exploited by the powerful and greedy and for a more human sharing of the
plenty you have given your world. Amen
Grant us, O Lord, the royalty of inward happiness; and the serenity which
comes from living close to thee. Daily renew in us the sense of joy, and let
the eternal Spirit dwell in our souls and bodies, filling every corner of
our hearts with light and gladness, so that, bearing about with us the
infection of a good courage we may be diffusers of life and meet all that
comes, of good or evil, even death itself, with gallant and high hearted
happiness, giving these thanks always for all things. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen
Jesus our healer, we place into your gentle hands those who are sick. Ease
their pain and heal the damage done to them in body, mind or spirit. Be
present to them through the support of friends and in their care of doctors
and nurses, and fill them with the warmth of your love now and always.
Amen
Eternal God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life:
grant us to walk in his way, to rejoice in his truth and to share his risen
life; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.
Loving and eternal God, through the resurrection of your Son, help us to
face the future with courage and assurance, knowing that nothing in life or
death can ever part us from your love for us in Jesus Christ our Saviour;
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.