Welcome back to this space where we look at the Revised Common Lectionary’s recommended readings for the coming Sunday.  The “Third Week of Easter” brings a different look than normal, as we do not get an Old Testament lesson.  It is the second straight week the lectionary has substituted a reading from Acts.  Let’s get into it.  Here are the readings:

• Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)
• Psalm 30
• Revelation 5:11-14
• John 21:1-19

Acts gives us the narrative of Paul’s conversion.  One of several mentions the story receives in the Scripture.  Many of us have heard the story numerous times, though it is easy to forget just what a business trip Saul was on.  It’s interesting to think about how much purpose and passion Saul’s life had.   He wasn’t directionless and he certainly didn’t think he was in need of any guidance.  What a surprise it must have been to find passion and purpose going in the complete opposite direction following his conversion.  I don’t want to miss the opportunity to mention Ananias and his utterance of the title from one of my favorite hymn’s, “Here I am Lord.”   There’s a lot in this story, much to think about as I decide what text might guide the sermon message Sunday.

I’m stuck a little on verse 3 of the Psalm.  I cannot help but think of the connection to Saul/Paul’s story.  “You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.”  Paul and we sometimes have no idea that we are headed to the grave, that the direction of our life is pointed away and not towards God.  Mercifully, God has a way of pushing us back on course, be it with signs, people, or divine intervention as was the case with Paul.   Our lives can be restored even though we sometimes choose paths leading us to the grave and not to glory.  Our lives can be restored no matter how confidently we have been walking the wrong way.  It gets me thinking about a pastor I know and a trip to Dolly Sods that he took with his family.  They got turned around and as is easy to do in a wilderness area, they got lost.  It may have taken a while to figure out, but the sun and where it moving towards setting gave them at least one true direction and they found their way.  God’s son does the same and more for us.

With proper study, there’s a lot to be said about the reading from Revelation, but this being a first blush type look at the readings, my synopsis won’t be nearly as deep.   All I’m really thinking about is all those voices.  When John says every creature, he means every creature.  The voices of the choir singing praise to the Lamb who was slain come from all creatures of heaven and earth and even those under the earth and sea.   Wow!  Brenda, one of our church organists, and I talk often about when the congregation belts out a hymn that they know very well and how awesome it is to hear a full church sing out.  This scene played out in Revelation is so much more, but it is the type of praise that our God deserves.

Those who know me, know that this is one of my absolute favorite pieces of Scripture.  The story, the restoration, the movement of Peter to a loving and forgiving Jesus is all so lovely and compelling.  This goes so wonderfully with the message in Acts and in that 3^rd verse of the Psalm.  Peter’s life and mission is restored after the most miserable failure of his life.  As I have preached in years prior, I think everyone should try to imagine the water.   Peter is hot and has been working and I have to wonder if that water wasn’t a preview of the refreshment he would receive from Jesus himself on that beach.  I could nearly write a book, but I won’t.  All I know is that this Scripture is so incredibly meaningful and powerful.   I urge you to spend time with this and the other readings this week and when we get together Sunday we can talk about them.