Easter is a season and not merely one Sunday or one
Festival only. The Sundays are called “Sundays
of Easter” rather than “Sundays after
Easter.” Easter is a season of Fifty days coming to a close on Pentecost.
Between Easter and Pentecost there should be a plateau of continuing interest
and activity in the church. If Easter is real and the resurrection is a fact,
church activity should increase rather than decrease. Preaching is essential to
the Church’s mission we proclaim a living and changeless Christ to a changing
world.
The story related by Luke in this week’s first lesson
is a gripping one as the early followers of Jesus clash with the Temple
leadership and are brought before the Council. This is the same Sanhedrin which
had condemned Jesus to death. Peter pulls no punches in his speech, telling the
rulers that it was they who killed the Messiah. Notice the warning that
Gamaliel gives the Sanhedrin; “Let the
men alone, for if they are of God they will prevail,” to the detriment of
the Sanhedrin!
Jesus remained a threat to the Temple authorities,
even after He had ascended to heaven. Here, the apostle Peter is jailed for
performing miracles in the name of Jesus. After he is miraculously freed by an
angel of God, he is summoned before the Council. Peter, filled with strength
that comes only from God, boldly asserts, “We
must obey God rather than men.”
Almighty God, through the resurrection of Your Son You have secured peace for our troubled consciences. Grant us this peace evermore that trusting in the merit of Your Son we may come at last to the perfect peace of heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. -[2]
[1]Image of Christ
appearing to St. Thomas http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Caravaggio_incredulity.jpg
[2]
Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis
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