Joel is taking three weeks of his second half of sabbatical time for personal and professional renewal. In his own way, he is breathing in the Spirit of the risen Christ and letting that life-giving Spirit move him through writing, reflection and in whatever other ways it may lead him.
On this Second Sunday of Easter, we, too, are invited to breathe in the Spirit of life and let it move us “Beyond Locked Doors” – the title of my sermon – to a world in need of healing and hope.
The Scriptures will include Psalm 16, a psalm that acknowledges God as the source and giver of life as well as the One who guides us in life. In our reading from Acts 2:14a, 22-32 we hear a portion of the sermon Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. It is his attempt to describe his experience of Jesus as the risen Christ. And John, in our gospel lesson (20:19-31), offers his understanding of the Holy Spirit as the source of healing and hope.
This Sunday is our reminder that Easter is not a day but a season. The Spirit of the risen Christ is forever moving in and through and around us. Let it move us to gather together this Sunday in worship and may that time together comfort, strengthen, renew and empower us to live as people of the resurrection – people who reach out to others offering the peace and presence of Christ.
Blessings,
Rev. Carolyn Peck