33rd rd Sunday of Easter Sunday of Easter April 19, 2015April 19, 2015

Acts 3:12-19Acts 3:12-191 John 3:1 – 71 John 3:1 – 7

Luke 24: 36b-48Luke 24: 36b-48

St. Alphege St. Alphege [Ælfheah][Ælfheah]

Archbishop of Archbishop of Canterbury & MartyrCanterbury & Martyr

953-1012953-1012

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

Bio

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Alphege (Ælfheah) was born about 953, during the 2nd major period of Viking raids against England. Initially a monk and then a hermit, he was eventually appointed Abbot of Bath. In 984, he became Bishop of Westminster. In 994 King Ethelred the Unready sent him to parley with Danish invaders Anlaf & Swein. The Anglo-Saxons paid tribute, but Anlaf became a Christian and swore never to invade England again. He never did. In that same year Aelphege brought the newly baptized King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway to a peaceful meeting with King Aethelred, and to his confirmation at Andover.

In 1005, Aelphege became Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1011, Danish raiders overran southern England, captured Canterbury and held Aelphege and other prominent persons for ransom. The others were duly paid for and released, but the price demanded for Aelphege was a fantastically high. Aelphege, knowing his peoples’ poverty, refused to pay or let anyone else pay for him. This infuriated the Danes who, at the end of a drunken feast, called an axeman forward to deliver a death-blow. Their chief, Thorkell the Tall, had tried to intervene, offering all his possessions except his ship for the Archbishop's life. By his death Aelphege became a national hero.

When the Danish chieftan Cnut (Canute) became King of England in 1016, he adopted a policy of conciliation, and in 1023 he brought the body of Aelphege from London to Canterbury, where he was long remembered as a martyr for exercising the Christian virtue of justice. In art, he is shown with an axe, the instrument of his death, or as a shepherd defending his flock from wolves.

St. Aelphege

(c.953 – 19 Apr 1012)

Collect for Easter 3BCollect for Easter 3BO God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA -- Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

Prayer for Easter 3B [St. Ælfheah]Prayer for Easter 3B [St. Ælfheah]O loving God, whose martyr bishop Aelphege of Canterbury suffered violent death when he refused to permit a ransom to be extorted from his people: Grant that all pastors of your flock may pattern themselves on the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep; and who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever.

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"Useful men must be very humble."

Peter puts into practice what Jesus had told him he could do all along. Now with an audience gawking at his success, he turns the experience into a sermon of on healing & hope.

Peter Explains Christ’s MedicineHumbly denies honor for his actGives full credit instead to ChristPreaches Christ as true MessiahCharges Jews with Jesus’ deathMollifies effect of their “crime”Attributes it to ignoranceEven so, they, too, can find mercyUrges: repent, convert, listen Think WWJDAttests to Jesus’ resurrectionTeaches us to encourage best in those we hope to save/heal

18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

12 When Peter saw this, he said: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? …16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see & know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name & the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

Time Stamp: c. 80 AD

Little does the world know the happiness of real followers of Christ. Little does the world think these poor, humble, despised ones are favorites of God & will dwell in heaven. Let followers of Christ be content with hard fare here, since they are in a land of strangers, where their Lord was so badly treated before them.

-- Matthew Henry

We Are All AdopteesJohn magnifies God’s love for us as baptized adopteesAffords us a special power & dignityArgues for holiness & against sinInfers honor for those who “get it”Urges us to “engage” in holiness

We Are All Marked Men/Women•Believers are obliged to self-purify•Reminds us sin contravenes divine law•Jesus’ mission was to sap sin’s power•His obedience/suffering clears our path•Those who abide in Christ abide by a new covenant•Righteous acts ~ practicing faith•Those who knowingly sin, don’t really know Christ•Inward renewal •To Peter, religion wasn’t art or acquired skill, but a new nature in all of us.

1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, & what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

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St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

36b Jesus himself stood among them & said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37

They were startled & frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, & why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands & my feet. It is I myself! Touch me & see; a ghost does not have flesh & bones, as you see I have.”

Time Stamp: c. 30 AD

Many troublesome thoughts which disquiet our minds, rise from mistakes concerning our awareness of Christ. Jesus’ initial disciples were just as vulnerable.

Another Unexpected Encounter•5 times in a single day Jesus appears to those who believe(d) in him•--Mary at the tomb•--By several women•--Peter alone•--2 followers en route to Emmaus•--11 disciples safe behind locked doors•Jesus conducts an unusual interview•Startles his 11 most devout believers•Reassurance: Peace be upon you!•--Why are you troubled?•--Did I not tell you?•--Look at my hands and feet!•--What’s for dinner? Let’s eat!•--Does this not fulfill prophesy?•Now go share what you’ve seen!•Don’t limit your message to the locals•I am with you ALWAYS

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St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer & rise from the dead on the 3rd day, 47 & repentance for forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses…