Seventh Sunday of Easter • Year B

Historical Collect

O King of Glory and Lord of countless angels, in triumph you ascended to the highest heaven. Abandon us not to be orphans, but keep your Father's promise to send your Spirit of truth. You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gregorian Sacramentary, 6th Century)

Thematic Collect

Blessed Trinity, your deep desire for you people is that we may be one as you are one. You have made us one in Christ through the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. Teach this gathering of Christ’s followers to live each day out of our true identity —children of God and one in Christ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Common Thread

Judas was dead, so a new apostle had to be chosen. This choosing was done through absolute faith in God—in God’s decision about who the new apostle would be. Though we are not certain how casting lots worked, we can see that the matter was put into God’s hands. After all, it is the Lord who knows people’s hearts, who “knows the way of the righteous”: those people who put their faith in God. And so, we may have great confidence that God will answer our prayers to give us what we need—beginning with eternal life in his Son. He will be faithful to keep those of faith in his Name, and sanctify them in the truth.

First Reading • Acts 1:12-26

We spend considerable time, sometimes years, finding a replacement pastor when one leaves. We interview candidates, visit their churches (sometimes at a great distance) to hear them preach, read their papers and résumés, and discuss the candidates in meetings and by telephone when the meetings conclude. Of course, some call committee folks will discuss the candidates in the parking lot. We also pray.

The apostles needed to replace errant Judas and they began with prayer — devoted, persistent prayer. Then they brought two candidates to God's attention, perhaps after a few interviews, and left it to him. They trusted God enough to direct the outcome, that they cast lots, turning over the decision to the Lord. Casting lots was a longstanding practice of the culture. Nevertheless, their cast for God's choice displayed great trust.

Psalm • Psalm 1:1-6

If one believes the counsel of this psalm, then she need not look much further than the Small Catechism for a simple discipline that will lead to blessing. The one who is blessed is that person who meditates on God's law day and night. The Morning and Evening Blessings direct us to say the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed, and to sing a hymn upon rising and retiring. Some pastors urge their congregations to say the Ten Commandments as they lay in their beds. Great blessing comes from this simple devotion.

Second Reading • 1 John 5:9-15

There is a sin that leads to eternal death, to hell; it is the sin against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31). Sinning against the Holy Spirit is the insistent denial of the Spirit's testimony to Christ. All other transgressions will be forgiven, but not that sin of refusing the Spirit's call to faith in Christ. How can God forgive those who do not want forgiveness?

You may know that you have eternal life if you have not denied the Spirit leading you to Christ. And you may know that you have eternal life if you have not denied the Spirit leading you back to Christ when you have sinned. Your sins will be forgiven and your eternal life assured only if you do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit by saying Jesus is not the Christ — or that he could not possibly forgive the likes of you. 

Gospel • John 17:11b-19

There are two kinds of saints. One way to be a saint is through what you say and do. Of course, we fail most miserably in this regard. We regularly “confess that we have sinned against [God] in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone” (Book of Common Prayer). After a moment of consideration, we must conclude that there are no such saints, despite what people may call some otherwise fine folks. They are still sinners, and as such, they are not saints.

The other way (the only way) to be a saint is through faith In God's word. In no way is this kind of saintliness determined by what we do. Instead, it is a matter of what (or who) we believe. We believe that Jesus has already cleansed us through his word (John 15:3). There is nothing we can add that makes a whit of difference.