Sunday, May 5 // 3rd Sunday of Easter

This weekend, the church throughout the world prays with Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41. Most of the religious leaders back then were so hard on Jesus’ followers that they imprisoned them. One religious leader defended Jesus’ followers saying, “if this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; you may even be found fighting against God.” (Acts 5:34-39). The apostles obeyed God rather than men. In 2019 we reel over clerical sex abuse cover ups in the news again. A reason some say they stop coming to church is that they do not trust leadership. How can we better show we trust God?

When have you obeyed God rather than someone with power over you? My friend Len told me of a time when his boss invited he and his wife to dinner with his family. When the bill came Len’s boss said, Here, Len, you pay this and put it on your expense account.” Len responded, “Sorry but I can’t; we haven’t discussed anything business related all evening. I can’t in conscience write this off as a business expense.” Len trusted God.

In today’s Gospel ( John 21: 1-19) Jesus told fishermen to cast a net for fish even though they’d failed to catch any all night. When have you done what Jesus wants after being unsuccessful in that same action?

And how do you feed Jesus’ “lambs” and “sheep”? How else do you do what Jesus wants?

Deni Mack, DMin Pastoral Associate