Worship Guide - 5th Sunday of Easter, Year W

“Truly, truly, I tell you all, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. … Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out.
~John 5:25, 28
 
In John, Jesus seems remarkably unconcerned with distinguishing between the spiritually dead and the physically dead. Past, present, and future are equally muddled. Double-meanings, strange images—ambiguity abounds in this gospel. But there is no question that things happen. Things happen when the voice of the Holy speaks. Life in abundance happens.
 
Harvard University recently made news for its work to uncover the story of its slave-owning past. After releasing an initial report, it created a fund to help tell an even more complete story about how it came to be. A “more complete story” seems to be operative here. The kind of new life Jesus speaks to has everything to do with the voice of truth—a more complete story of who we are under the banner of heaven—drawing us to salvation. What are the stories that we need to uncover—to tell and to hear—to bring us to new life?
 
“…the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”

Readings: 5th Sunday of Easter: Acts 5:12–16 † Psalm 147:12–20 † 2 Corinthians 4:13–15 † John 5:25–29

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