Philip was told by an angel to go "toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." There was an Ethiopian eunuch that had came to worship in Jerusalem. He was reading aloud from the writings of Isaiah. Philip was compelled to run up to the eunuch and he asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The man said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" The passage read, "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." The eunuch does not understand the passage. He asks Philip for guidance on it. Philip proceeds to tell the man how the sacrificial lamb is Christ and of his atonement reconciles us to God by grace. The two men came upon an area with water where the eunuch asked to be baptized. Philip baptized him and once the water was applied the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch then proclaimed the gospel of Christ to everyone he met on his way until he came to his destination city, Caesarea.
Many scholars believe this story is related directly to one of the earliest forms of Christianity called Coptic Christianity. This church today still exists almost entirely without any change since the beginning. In our reading last week Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd. Now today we see him referred to as a lamb led to slaughter and also as a vine (or plant). We explored last week a common theme again this week in which we are reminded that Christ plays many roles in our lives, but the main role is always Savior.
God makes manifest the love He has for us in his Son Jesus' divinity. As always all things work together for good for those that love God. We are reminded in today's gospel lesson that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. He reminds us that if we are up to no good God will deal with us by removing us. He is referring to our state of grace. It is not that God hates us, or forgets about us, but instead spends more time on us. Jesus
says, "Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned."
Collect:
ALMIGHTY GOD, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
ALMIGHTY GOD, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Pray Especially for:
John Cunningham, Betty Stenger, Terese Gluck, Rose Mauzy, David Garber, Pete Walburg, Ella Lane, Sara Pace, Bill Gardner, Katie Armstrong, the Heaton family, Lisa McNelly, Jimmy Milas, and Pete Stanish.
John Cunningham, Betty Stenger, Terese Gluck, Rose Mauzy, David Garber, Pete Walburg, Ella Lane, Sara Pace, Bill Gardner, Katie Armstrong, the Heaton family, Lisa McNelly, Jimmy Milas, and Pete Stanish.
(1st Reading Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 22:24-30, 2nd Reading I John 4:7-21, Gospel John 15:1-8)
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