25 May 2025 - Easter 6, Year C

 

Theme

The scripture readings for this week present us with a few people’s encounters with the Good News of the gospel and their responses to it. In Acts, Lydia hears the Gospel from Paul and is led to hospitality. In the second John reading, a man who has been sick for 38 years gets healed and walks for the first time.

Scripture Readings

• Acts 16:9-15 - Paul receives a vision and a call to visit Macedonia and preach the Good News there. Just outside of Philippi, Paul has a conversation with a lady named Lydia who accepted Paul’s message and invited Paul and his companions to stay with her.
• Psalm 67 - A Psalm of Praise calling all nations to praise God and asking God to bless them.
• Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 - A vision of the new Jerusalem. The Lamb lights up the city and there is no night. A river flows down from the throne and the Lamb of God. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit. The leaves of the trees were used for medicine to heal the nations. The city has no evil, or curse, or sickness, or death.
• John 14:23-29 - Jesus says that all who love him will do as he says. He is leaving us the gift of peace and will return again one day.
• John 5: 1-9 - Jesus meets a man in Jerusalem on the Sabbath who has been sick for 38 years. When asked if he would like to be well, the man responds that he can’t do that because whenever he tries to get to the healing pools, someone else has arrived before him. Jesus tells him to get up and walk, which the man miraculously does.

Personal Application

Our story is one of the most powerful ways that we get to share the Gospel with others. In this week’s readings, we are faced with the testimonies of Lydia, the author of revelation and a paralytic. It is clear to see the impact that Christ had on each of their lives.

Each of these stories are different from the other, but just as powerful. Often, we might think that our testimony is not as powerful or interesting as someone elses, but God can use every person’s story to speak to others in a meaningful way.

How has Jesus impacted your life? When last did you share your story with someone else?

Communal Application

Throughout the New Testament, the early chuch received visions and calls to go and meet people in various places. Often these places were unwelcome to Jews and Christians. And yet, every time that the apostles were obedient to God’s call, people were healed and transformed by the message of the Gospel.

It is true that not everyone is called to travel or plant chuches as Paul and some of the apostles were. But I think that too many churches today are comfortable in their big, beautiful churches and they expect people to come to them when they need help. I think the church has a responsibility to reclaim its purpose for mission in the world. Mission goes further than giving monetary donations to charities and it does not always mean travelling halfway across the world on a mission trip. There are many people just around the corner from us, in our neighbourhoods and cities, who are in desparate need of Good News. It is the church’s responsibility to go to them and share the transforming Gospel with them as much as possible.

How is your church involved in your local community? How can you assist in supporting mission in the life of your church?