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Lectionary for May 17, 2026
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35;
1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11; John 17:1-11
Every time I speak at a conference or lead a multiday workshop, I feel as if I run into folks who are asking the big questions: Who are we supposed to be at this point in world history? How do we evaluate which parts of the church are healthiest or which need the most help? What does it look like to be faithful and strategic (or as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves)?
My teachers trained me to meet questions with questions so we could all learn together. So I ask, “Does God seem to have an answer for the questions we are asking?” In one of these conversations, someone brought up James 1:27: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” God’s preferences for religion, at least in this instance, don’t have much to do with right belief and everything to do with right action. The lectionary readings for this week have everything to do with clarifying God’s intentions and desires for folks in times of transition.
In Acts 1, after the disciples have seen the risen Lord, they have a question. Lord, are you finally going to kick out the Romans and restore the kingdom to Israel? (6). Look, Jesus, we understand now that it was some part of your mission to allow Rome to crucify you. We don’t fully comprehend it yet. But you’re alive again! So how’s about we go and slaughter some Romans—or let your angels do it. It’s time for independence from the people who tortured you to death, right?
Well, no, as it turns out. It’s not for humans to know when God is going to restore Israel. Jesus goes a step further. Instead of tossing the Romans out, he is going to send his disciples packing. They were to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth. The things that the disciples were hoping for the Romans—leaving Jerusalem and the Holy Land—are what Jesus foresees for his disciples. Whoops!
It’s not that the disciples were without basis for thinking that a risen Jesus would scatter enemies. They had read the psalms, the same as us. The psalm appointed for this week opens with a plea that God would scatter enemies and that those who hate God would be driven from the divine presence (68:1). Thank God that God doesn’t choose to answer that prayer! Instead, while we were indeed God’s enemies, God worked reconciliation, not scattering (Romans 5:10, Ephesians 2:12-13).
When we bring the far close, we are acting as Christians. Jesus demands that we love and pray for our enemies.
As an aside, psalms are certainly not bad or wrong! Also, when the devil cites Scripture to tempt humans to abandon God’s mission, the quotes are from psalms (Matthew 4:6 quotes Psalm 91:11-12). See also contemporary uses of Psalm 144:1 to support anti-Christ actions. Let’s be careful to let Jesus’ life and ministry interpret psalms, not the other way around. This is the mistake that the disciples made. They were looking to scatter enemies while Jesus was looking to make friends, and indeed siblings, in the kingdom.
In his high priestly prayer in the Gospel of John, Jesus frames his mission and that of the disciples. He says God has given him authority over all flesh so Jesus could give eternal life to all whom God gave him (John 17:2). There is no earthly throne to conquer, there is no polity to uphold against others. Jesus came to save the Romans who nailed him to the cross every bit as much as he came to save the faithful Jewish women and men who followed him as disciples. Jesus wants everyone—absolutely everyone—to know God and to know Jesus the Messiah (3). Again, enemies are not being scattered. Instead, they—we—are brought close into relationship with God, Jesus and one another.
Far too often, from the nursery to the hospice, we scatter enemies when we ought to be making friends. The ministry of Jesus—and therefore of his followers—is one of reconciliation. When we bring the far close, we are acting as Christians. Jesus demands that we love and pray for our enemies. If we love only those who love us, it is no credit to us at all. Even pagans do that (Matthew 5:44-47)! So, instead of scattering our enemies, what if we made friends?
