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A LECTIONARY RESOURCE FOR APRIL 27 TO JUNE 1 2003
Written by Graham Millar, Presbyterian Minister at Ngaio Union Parish, Wellington
April 27 - Rebuilding Community
Introduction
The period between Easter and Pentecost is a happy waiting time. This is a time when some ministers wind down after the busy Lent-Easter period, and it is also a time to reflect on the afterglow of Easter.
In the Jesus story it is a waiting time. Frightened, fearful disciples, gradually gathering in closed rooms.
For Jews, it was late spring and early summer, a week of weeks, working hard between two festival holidays.
The Church in agrarian societies found this to be a time when people were very busy with their work in the fields and the Church taught about Resurrection and judgement.
As Kiwis in 2003, we experience these weeks as including Autumn, school holidays, Anzac Day, Mothers(or Home and Family) Day, Faka me, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and Asia Sunday. Many parts of Aotearoa New Zealand will still be celebrating the date on which Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed in their district. Wellington, for example, celebrates the signing of the Treaty at Poneke on April 29. Network Waitangi has some resources to assist with this.
The lectionary covers material from Acts, Psalms, I John, and Gospel selections from John and Luke.
ACTS
This is the only period of the year when the first reading of the Sunday lectionary is not from Hebrew Scriptures but from the prophetic history of the new Christian Church.
As the eighth century (BCE) prophets gave the framework for interpreting Hebrew history, as found in Deuteronomy to Kings, so the teachings of Paul provide a hermeneutical lens for viewing the early Church.
These extracts in particular contain the pattern of proclamation (kerygma) which contained the good news (gospel).
They have shaped our understanding of Christianity immeasurably, and are precious stories to savour and question. They provide insight into the ideas which shape our present Church behaviour, for good or ill.
PSALMS
Here is a great collection of favourite Psalms! (1, 4, 22, 23, 47, 98, 133)
They are all known and loved.
Why should they come together at this season?
This is the time of moving from Easter glory to Pentecost promise. The Psalms express faith, assurance and confidence. Because they express this positive and confident attitude, people love them. They also touch the common experiences and desires of people for good relationships with each other, and for security in the love and protection of God.
And they are good poetry.
I JOHN
There are many strands of tradition threaded into the Christian Testament, as there are in the Hebrew composite documents. Some of these strands reflect the political groupings of the Church.
John is claimed as founder by Celtic and Coptic churches, just as Peter is claimed by Rome. Johannine writings include the Gospel and letters of John and the Book of Revelation, if we take those documents to which John's name is attached. Do they have a common theology?
I John is a letter of love, light and life, with warnings to people who do not believe and/or do not love.
THE GOSPELS
The Gospels affirm life, resurrection life, ascended life, but mostly the continuing, newly empowered, enlivened and enlightened life of the disciples.
What really happened between the crucifixion and Paul's first letters? In "The Birth of Christianity", John Dominic Crossan attempts to answer this from a literary, historical and philosophical perspective.
These Gospel stories may not give the details, but they certainly give the inspiration. And it is to the in-spiring of the Holy Spirit that they lead us.
Peace be with you, and love.
WHAT NEXT?
The following weekly comments link the lectionary passages and give some possibilities for interpretation.