Extolling God

Ray was caught by the word “Extol.”

Acts 10:46 says, “they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God.”

The Psalmist says, “O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!”

John calls us “friends” of Jesus, a term he uses when talking about the best man at the wedding feast. He extols his friend in his toasts and duties.

1 John tells us the Spirit testifies with us. It is as the people in the house of Cornelius were filled with the spirit that they extolled God.

The word “extol” is the same term Mary uses in the magnificat, “Magnify the Lord.”

How do you magnify one who is bigger than creation? It must be in our experience. It is by loving, obeying him.

In this farewell discourse we see the church as the beloved community. The disciples are his dear friends. If we would be his friends we should obey his commands.

Cliff was caught by that “if.” Does it mean that Jesus’ friendship with us is conditional? Or does it mean that it is the friends joy to obey. A friend wouldn’t dream of ignoring his dear friend’s dying wish. His servant only does what his duty requires, his friend does all he can from the love of Him.

Resurrection Ethics

From a sermon at laughingbird.net

In Jesus Christ, God is doing things in radically new ways. The fear of death is broken, the powers of evil have been disarmed. We no longer need to live life cautiously protecting ourselves against anything about which we are not absolutely sure. Those things which are different from us or outside our experience need no longer be treated with suspicion. We are now free to live in radical openness to the unlimited scope of the all inclusive love of God. We are free to celebrate with whoever is celebrating the welcome they have found in Christ. And we are free to follow Christ in loving others, openly and generously, and to allow the rest of our moral discernment to flow out of that instead of being dictated by timid legalism.

Christ is risen, and the fear of death is broken. Christ is risen, and the powers of evil have been disarmed. Christ is risen and is coming in glory to remove every trace of corruption from the earth, leaving only that which is born of the Spirit and baptised in God’s love. This is the faith of the church. This is the faith in which we stand. Alleluia!

Overview

www.etdiocese.net

Today’s readings urge believers to come together in a community characterized by love. In Acts 11 (BCP) Luke describes how, in Antioch, the Christian community expands to include Gentiles. In his sermon in Acts 10 (RCL), Peter tells Cornelius of God’s work in Jesus Christ, thus opening the doors of the Church to Gentiles. The author of 1 John describes Jesus as God’s love for us, and calls us to embrace one another in that love. In the gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that they have been chosen to love one another; in this they will find perfect joy.