Welcome to Good Shepherd’s Sunday and the fourth
Sunday of the Resurrection or Easter. On every fourth
Sunday of Easter we remembered Jesus as the Good
Shepherd.
Our Resurrection/Easter readings are filled with symbols
of the strength and optimism as the first Christian
community received and recognized that the resurrected
Christ, their Good Shepherd, was present leading them.
Peter made it clear that their strength to survive the
hostility they faced came from “ the Shepherd and
Guardian of your souls,” (I Peter 2:25b NRSV).
The first Christians were confident in the risen Christ, the
Good Shepherd who had defeated death and the grave!
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us that
“filled with the Holy Spirit,” Peter was able to speak God’s truth to the powers that were. Listen to how Peter puts it when he was asked, “ By what power or by what name do you do this?”
(Peter had cured the lame and healed the sick.) He said,
“Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick…, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.”
Devout Christians down through the ages have lived out their faith in the world by being confident in Christ, and faithful to Christ. Let us sit up and take note of how we ought to live out our faith in our world today. May this resurrection season continue to bring you, inner strength and faith to live out your devotion to the resurrected Christ in our troubled world. May you be blessed as you listen to today’s Scripture readings, music/hymns and sermon.
Thanks to all for worshiping with us!
Ernest Belisle (Pastor)