First Thoughts
Theme for ALL
“Love one another, even as I have loved you.”
The lens for all else in this Easter.
May 26, 2019 For Women, too. Easter 6
Having chosen to use the Alternative Gospel from John:
Jesus’ Story and Love, contrary to common practice, included Women.
And Jesus Love Heals; thus we heal one another.
Acts 16:9-15 – Lydia
Acts Thoughts
A women, if you judge me to be faithful, come and stay with me. Response of faith: to provide what is needed: hospitality for travellers, for homeless. Now common? Enough, but in those days, accepting a woman as one of the disciples was a rare act of equality.
No matter our traditions, our culture norms, our expectations; Jesus love reaches all people.
And we are to love as Jesus loves us,
We are to love those whom our tradition excludes from consideration.
Psalm 67 – Let all stand in Awe!
Revelation 21:10, 22–22:5
The city, no more night, only goodness
For the healing of the nations
Revelation Thoughts
In the New Jerusalem, in the City of God, An exclusion: no unclean, only those written in the Book of Life
there no other light needed than the Light of God, no night, no darkness, no abominations, nothing unclean.
[All chaff will have already been burned away.]
The tree produces fruits and leaves, the leaves are for the healing of the nations.
Gospel (alt.): John 5:1-9 Heal one another
as Jesus healed even on the Sabbath
Gospel Thoughts
Our travails last and last: this man’s for 38! years!
And all during that time no one has helped him.
Then in a heartbeat Jesus heals him, even though it is the Sabbath.
Love acts to restore health without regard for expectations and artificial limits (which do not provide health in following them.)
Love one another as Jesus Loves us means HEAL one another, even if the stink of rot has surrounded the illness or circumstance of sin for decades, for generations even!
