1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles 10:25-26.34-35.44-48.
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage.
Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.”
Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.
While Peter was still speaking these things, the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.
The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also,
for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded,
“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?”
He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Psalms 98:1.2-3.4.
Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
The LORD has made his victory known; has revealed his triumph for the nations to see,
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth; break into song; sing praise.
2nd Reading: First Letter of John 4:7-10.
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 15:9-17.
As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.
Sermon Thoughts
Is Christianity an Ideology? Some may think so, and express their „anxiety“,
Will the church be helpful for the world today?
Will the words of Jesus get acceptance?
But there are also people, who wonder about the presence of the church.
In reality it is well known, how much the world is influenced by the church?
This truth cannot be avoided.
But Christianity is not simply an ideology. More than that, it is life based on the life of Jesus Christ. The life of Jesus reflects in that.
A life, that is so deeply with the Love and God- bound.
„Remain in my Love” Jesus speaks so today.
There are 2 messages in this simple sentence.
„Life“ and „remain“…
Jesus’ petition to us can be shortlisted to the above words. Through these words he reveals two thoughts.
At first we see the life of Jesus, who loved his „FATHER” in Love.
Then he shares this way with us to follow him.
We can speak hours and hours about the Love. We know there are so many ways to express love. But many of them “remain” not long because they are not deep at all.
But the love between Jesus and his father was very special.
Jesus lived this love with full “sense” to show an example for the people of Israel.
In the history of Israel, Yahweh did so many wonders for his people.
They were with this God “on the way”. They had His Presence in the “covenant”. They adored him in the temple.
But God was not a “remaining” or “dwelling” factor for them. They remained a people of Rituals and laws.
They went away “from god” and denied this Love.
Still God accept these people as his own. And that is the great wonder for me.
Now Jesus gives them a good example- Example of Love and “remaining” in it. He “provokes” them in that way:
a provocation to return to the originals.
„One cannot love properly, when the love is not really felt.
One cannot love properly, when the love is not lived.” Once told me a friend. Yes, Love is a “transaction, a give and take”.
But the “durability is very important for that.
Change is “modern” and normal in our world today. There are philosophers, say that change is the basic principle of the universe.
Is love too changeable? How much it brings?
I think these continual changes makes one only restless and will take the happiness away. Where is the time to “love” the love?
Jesus says, „remain in my love“, to enjoy the peace and Happiness in the reality.
Men who found this „dwelling place” remain in Jesus. They have their Peace in Christ and they can give it to others.
The Apostles are good example for this. We heard Peters’ words and deeds in the first reading and it is enough to state this.
To be a People with „Spirit“, yes, with the „divine spirit“, are our call. We can achieve it with Christ, yes with Christ only.
Let us try to remain in his love in this Easter time. Amen
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage.
Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.”
Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.
While Peter was still speaking these things, the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.
The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also,
for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded,
“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?”
He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Psalms 98:1.2-3.4.
Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
The LORD has made his victory known; has revealed his triumph for the nations to see,
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth; break into song; sing praise.
2nd Reading: First Letter of John 4:7-10.
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 15:9-17.
As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.
Sermon Thoughts
Is Christianity an Ideology? Some may think so, and express their „anxiety“,
Will the church be helpful for the world today?
Will the words of Jesus get acceptance?
But there are also people, who wonder about the presence of the church.
In reality it is well known, how much the world is influenced by the church?
This truth cannot be avoided.
But Christianity is not simply an ideology. More than that, it is life based on the life of Jesus Christ. The life of Jesus reflects in that.
A life, that is so deeply with the Love and God- bound.
„Remain in my Love” Jesus speaks so today.
There are 2 messages in this simple sentence.
„Life“ and „remain“…
Jesus’ petition to us can be shortlisted to the above words. Through these words he reveals two thoughts.
At first we see the life of Jesus, who loved his „FATHER” in Love.
Then he shares this way with us to follow him.
We can speak hours and hours about the Love. We know there are so many ways to express love. But many of them “remain” not long because they are not deep at all.
But the love between Jesus and his father was very special.
Jesus lived this love with full “sense” to show an example for the people of Israel.
In the history of Israel, Yahweh did so many wonders for his people.
They were with this God “on the way”. They had His Presence in the “covenant”. They adored him in the temple.
But God was not a “remaining” or “dwelling” factor for them. They remained a people of Rituals and laws.
They went away “from god” and denied this Love.
Still God accept these people as his own. And that is the great wonder for me.
Now Jesus gives them a good example- Example of Love and “remaining” in it. He “provokes” them in that way:
a provocation to return to the originals.
„One cannot love properly, when the love is not really felt.
One cannot love properly, when the love is not lived.” Once told me a friend. Yes, Love is a “transaction, a give and take”.
But the “durability is very important for that.
Change is “modern” and normal in our world today. There are philosophers, say that change is the basic principle of the universe.
Is love too changeable? How much it brings?
I think these continual changes makes one only restless and will take the happiness away. Where is the time to “love” the love?
Jesus says, „remain in my love“, to enjoy the peace and Happiness in the reality.
Men who found this „dwelling place” remain in Jesus. They have their Peace in Christ and they can give it to others.
The Apostles are good example for this. We heard Peters’ words and deeds in the first reading and it is enough to state this.
To be a People with „Spirit“, yes, with the „divine spirit“, are our call. We can achieve it with Christ, yes with Christ only.
Let us try to remain in his love in this Easter time. Amen
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