“Living Stones”? Priests” Huh?

Date: May 22, 2011

Liturgical Sunday: Fifth Sunday of Easter

RCL Scripture: Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; Acts 7:55-60; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

Sermon Title: “Living Stones”? Priests? Huh?

Knox Presbyterian [audio:https://wordsfromthemiddle.ca/wp-content/uploads/110522_-_Knox.mp3|titles=“Living Stones”? Priests? Huh?]

St. Mark’s Presbyterian [audio:https://wordsfromthemiddle.ca/wp-content/uploads/110522_-_St_Marks.mp3|titles=“Living Stones”? Priests? Huh?]

As I mentioned in one of the sermons for this Sunday, Easter 5 in Year A has almost an embarrassment of riches when it comes to texts. There is the very end of the story of Stephen which includes the introduction of Saul who will become St. Paul. The Gospel Lesson includes Jesus saying “I am the way, the truth and the life” as well as his interactions with Thomas and Philip. And finally, the Epistle reading from St. Peter’s first letter which is the source of the sermons this Sunday.

There is a bit of autobiography this week as I tell part of the story of a youth choir / singing group I was in called The Living Stones. It was a wonderful group with some really superior musicians who were encouraged by the director, who also happened to be my late mother, to perform some very challenging music.

But enough of old home week, the point of today’s sermons was to work with two very powerful and challenging ideas or images, i.e. God’s people as “living stones” and as priests. We spent more time on the first image, as I think it is the one that is more of a challenge, or at least, less familiar. I was hoping to get across the idea that in the same way that there are no unnecessary bricks or two by fours in a successfully constructed building, there are no unnecessary “living stones” in the edifice that is the church universal. There is more to it than that and I think you might have to listen to both sermons to get all that I was trying to get at . . . but only if you have the time and inclination.

Blessings,

Barry