Our Sacred Roots: The Priesthood of All Believers

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T he S eason from E aster to P entecost

Fifth Sunday of Easter May 15 - 21, 2022

WEEK 25

For forty days after his resurrection, Jesus revealed himself alive to his disciples. On the fortieth day, he ascended to heaven to take his place as Lord and Christ at God’s right hand. Ten days after this, on the fiftieth day after his resurrection, he would send to us the promise of the Father – the Holy Spirit, the pledge of our salvation. Here we ponder the wonder of God’s working, from Easter Sunday to the Spirit’s descent at Pentecost. At the time when Peter declared the Good News to Cornelius and his kinfolk, the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. When Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him for being with uncircumcised men and eating with them. Peter reviewed for them his experience with Cornelius, telling them of his vision from God and his visit to Caesarea. He explained how the Lord had spoken to Cornelius and told him to send for Peter, saying that he (Peter) would declare to him and his kin a message by which they would be saved – Cornelius and his entire household. Peter reviewed how he told them of Jesus of Nazareth, and how, as he spoke to them, the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius’s company, just as he did on the disciples at the beginning. Recognizing God’s actions on the Gentiles, Peter and his colleagues announced that God has granted repentance that leads to life also to the peoples of the world who were not Jews. As the grace of God was extended through the word of the apostles to the Gentiles, so it continues to this very day. Throughout this entire age, our Father God calls all men and women from every land to receive his free salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Spirit. THIS WEEK’S THEME Gentiles Receive Life, Acts 11.1-18