Living the Lectionary

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Season: Easter
Week of May 29th

“Sons and Daughters”

About the Season: We are in the season of Easter.

Easter is a 7 week long season, one week longer than
Lent. In this season, we celebrate the Resurrection
of our Lord and consider ourselves as a part of the
church which is promised a Resurrection like His.

About this Sunday: Easter is almost over, and as

this season changes to Pentecost, we begin to see
the promise of our inclusion into God’s family with
more and more clarity.
Reflecting on the Readings:
• Acts 17:22-31 – We Are His Offspring – Paul
points us to the Christian idea that is even
present in pagan religions: that we are God’s
children and are cared for by Him. How does
knowing that you are a child of God change
your life?
• Psalm 66 – Bless Our God – The simple
pronoun “our” should cause us to pause. We
lay claim to God with this word and attest to
His claim over us. Do you claim God? Do you
show the world His claim over you?
• I Peter 3:13-22 – In the Family through
Baptism – Peter explains how Baptism brings
us into the family of God. Who are the other
members of your family?
• John 14:15-21 – Not an Orphan – God has
effectively adopted you into His family for the
sake of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. How has
your “adoption” changed your life?
Law and Gospel:
• Law: Our “birth family”, the sinful world and
our own sinful actions and attitudes, was and is
abusive towards us. If we keep on living in this
birth family of our sins and those of others, we
will die just as people die in abusive families.
• Gospel: The whole Trinity, God the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit, came up with a way to
adopt us – the cross and the empty tomb.
Through the work of the Trinity, we are
adopted and saved from this abusive world.
Living the Lectionary Ideas:
• Learn: What three things do Lutherans
believe is given to a person when they are
 brought into God’s family through Baptism?
(Hint: Small Catechism, Baptism, #2)
• Do: Consider sponsoring a child in a “adopt a
child” program like Compassion International.
Consider the cost (approx. $30 a month), and
then the cost that Jesus paid for you on the
cross.
• Live: Develop your attitudes about belonging.
What do you belong to? Where do you belong?
How does your belonging change you?