Fifth Sunday of Easter - Video of Divine Service and Text of Sermon
Video of Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a, 51-60 1 Peter 2:2-10 John 14:1-14 Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia! O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. The Collect of the Day serves to move us from our Praise of God to our reception of the Living Word of God. The Collect prepares us to listen to God’s Word by collecting the general themes of the appointed Scriptures for the day. I was particularly struck by the request imbedded in the prayer: “ Grant that we may love what you have commanded and desire what you promise .” God does command us to do and not do things. Commands are demands intended for obedience. God’s commands do not always come natural to us. They may very well chafe against our impulses and preferences. It requires personal discipline for courage and for restraint. God’s demands are for your b...