Third Sunday of Easter

Readings – Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19

Our God is the God of second chances, and third chances and beyond.  Just think of the two saints highlighted in our readings today, St. Peter and St. Paul.  Peter denied knowing Jesus three times; Paul pursued followers of Jesus to bring them before the courts.  Yet, at the national cathedral in Washington, D.C. the two towers are named St. Peter and St. Paul.  They are saints with a capital “S”. 

And then there are the small “s” saints, like us here at All Saints, Selinsgrove.  There are no towers or cathedrals named for us.

  However, let’s more carefully review our texts for today. 

After being blinded by a bright light, “they” led Saul, whose name would later be changed to Paul, by the hand.  He was guided by an unnamed group, a community. 

Blinded, he was guided to “Strait Street” to the home of a man named Judas, a common name in those days.  He was hosted by a community.

There a man named Ananias, though at first reluctant, called Saul “brother”, and laid hands on him with prayer that he might recover his sight. 

When his sight was restored, he was baptized into the community of faith at Damascus, and was housed and fed among them, staying several days.

I think there is no capital “S” saint named Paul without the community of small “s” saints. 

Now to the resurrection appearance of Jesus at the sea shore.  Peter was with a group of fishermen.  There were too many fish for those in the first boat to haul in the catch that day so another boat was needed.  The community of faith needed partners that day, as it does into our own day.  When they return to the shore with the bountiful catch (scholars do not know the significance of the 153 number), they shared a meal together, a meal prepared by the resurrected Jesus. 

Peter, the three-time denier, was called by Jesus to lead the new community with the words, “Feed my sheep”, “Feed by lambs”.  Peter, gather people together.  Worship, coffee hour, pub theology, Martha’s Table, Meals for Seals, Wednesday morning Bible study, Meals on Wheels….  And even into his old age, Peter was told that “someone else will fasten a belt around you”, again you will be in community. 

To conclude – without community there would be no capital “S” saints like St. Peter and St. Paul.  It is the small, lower case “s” saints that create community. 

Together, we are the Easter People, the people of faith, the community of God, who gives us the gifts of God for the People of God.

Amen.