Third Sunday after Easter

For Third Sunday after Easter Archbishop Cranmer selected a Collect from the Leonine Sacramentary (10th C. version). It is the oldest Collect in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. The Collect includes two uniques phrases, “the light of truth” and a reference to “Christ’s religion.” The Epistle reading, 1 Peter 2:11-17 includes St. Peter’s teaching on Christian virtues, specifically referring to resisting “lust” and obedience to civil authority. In the Gospel lesson, John 16:16-22, Jesus referred to a concept of time, “in a little while,” which confused the Disciples/Apostles. The concept refers to Jesus’ own expectation of the time coming for His death upon the Cross. I discuss the Collect and readings in Episode Two in the AIC Christian Education Video series, Eastertide: From Resurrection to Ascension. The entire series is linked from the Digital Library page. The audio-only version of Episode Two is linked from the Podcast Archive page. My Podcast Homily for Third Sunday after Easter is linked from the Podcast Homilies page. A related Homily for Third Sunday after Easter, based on the appointed Psalm reading for Morning Prayer, Psalm 36:5-12 and Psalm 138, is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page.

Because there are no specific examples of Christian art which clarify the issue raised in the Gospel lesson, I have chosen one of the oldest surviving images of St. John, from the Codex Aureus of Stockholm, originally known as the Codex Aureus of Canterbury where it was produced, circa 750 A.D. I discuss the its complicated history — including possession by theft by Vikings & its return a century later, and, still later, by a member of the Spanish royal family, before its arrival in Sweden following its purchase by the Swedish royal family. The matter is presented in the context of this and other references by Jesus to other concepts of time in Episode Forty-three and Episode Forty-four in our Bible Study Video series, The New Testament: Gospels linked from the Bible Study-New Testament pages. The image was used as Illustration No. 4 in our publication, The Gospel of John: Annotated & Illustrated, available through my Amazon Author Central page. Details about the book are found on the AIC Bookstore page. The image is one of almost 600 examples of Christian art used on this site since its inception in August A.D. 2014.

John Writing His Gospel, illumination in colors and gold on parchment, Codex Aureus of Stockholm, also called Codex Aureus of Canterbury in honor of its original owner, Ms. A.135, Konigsliga Biblioteket, Stockholm, Sweden. Public Domain.

As always, thank you for your interest and support. The AIC is pleased to be able to continue to provide this kind of access to traditional Christian teaching in print, visual and audio formats. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

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Anglican Internet Church

Fr. Shibley is a retired Anglican clergyman who produces unique videos, podcasts and books explaining traditional Christian theology from an Anglican perspective. All materials are in layman's language with a minimum of technical or theological terms. All are available either free or at reasonable cost. The AIC Bookstore now includes 17 publications.

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