EASTER 3. 14 April 2002

Readings: Acts 2:14a, 36-41. 1 Peter1:17-23. Luke 24:13-35

"God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." Acts 2:36

Some people might think that the last thing the Church of Ireland needs is a 21st century heresy trial, such as was held on Monday last 9th April 2002 and adjourned until 10 May.

Of course the Church needs its academics and intellectuals to peel back the layers of the text of scripture, explain its nuances and distil the essence of the message in plain uncomplicated language. If you read the lectionary texts for each of the first three Sundays of Easter and go back to basics, it is clear that the first Christians believed something about Jesus, about who he was and what was his message.

"God has made this Jesus, both Lord and Messiah"

Something happened on Easter Day that was so radical that Peter according to Luke, made this speech which is placed 50 days later, a mere six weeks after the death of Jesus.

We need to have an understanding of the process by which we have received the New Testament scriptures. The life of Jesus is told through the experience of the church, including some interpretation, reflecting on the events which took place 40-80 years earlier. The text is still remarkably close to its original sources. In giving an overview, Paul says that if nothing happened on Easter Day then, to borrow a phrase of Cardinal Connell, "Christianity is a sham."

If we take the gospel passage about the journey on the Emmaus Road - The two disciples talked with a stranger about the events, which had taken place a week earlier. They invited him into their home. Around the dinner table they made a discovery which caused them to get up out of their seats there and then, and having just walked seven miles, to half run the same seven miles back to Jerusalem to share that discovery with their friends.

What happened in the period after Easter? Was it just 40 days of miracles and then it was all over when Jesus disappeared? They could go home and forget about it, get on with living and remember Jesus as being just a nice guy? Or even "a failed end-time prophet".

What has the Christian church done to Jesus of Nazareth in 2000 years? Has it managed to tame the man and his message which was new, radical and powerful and which changed lives? Have we emasculated Jesus Christ, squeezed the life out of him until all that is left is a pale shadow and made his message so undemanding, that it becomes an innocuous thing that you may take or leave as you please?

St Luke's account of Peter's speech is startling, vital and dramatic. The message in one sentence is a plain statement that "God has made this Jesus, both Lord and Messiah." We see too the result of this message in the immediate response of the hearers. We see a process of encounter and engagement leading to a change of life. "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart." They demanded to know what they should do. In reply Peter told them two things were needed for them to "save themselves". They were "to repent and be baptised." In doing so they would receive both a promise and a gift - "their sins would be forgiven" and "they would receive the Holy Spirit." And this is for "everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Him."

Some people welcomed this message, and others by implication did not - of those who did 3000 were baptised in one day, without any baptismal preparation classes! That kept the disciples busy on a Sunday afternoon.

As we consider the reading from Acts: What is the pattern? What can we learn? Where are we at now? Starting with the last question. As you look around how would you describe the church today? Is it just a social club for the like minded? For those who perhaps like to make a hobby of religion? Is it for insiders only? How welcoming are we to strangers? Would you know that the church existed for those who are outside it?

What can we learn from Peter's speech? How do we take that message and apply it to ourselves? We see a pattern of proclamation and response. Those who wanted to change were told " to repent and be baptised." Have we removed the message of repentance because we no longer have any sense of sin? We've had the baptism bit, perhaps what we need is a healthy dose of repentance. It can change your life. This good news is for "everyone whom the Lord God calls to him." Then you can offer your own testimony in the words of our second reading.