Reflection by Rev. Leonard N. Peterson

Any holder of seaside property knows that he or she has an obligation to respect the laws of shifting tides and occasional flooding. Neglecting either would prove to be foolish. So, he or she wisely makes sure the house is built solidly on rock, or perhaps on strong piers rising from the sand high enough to escape damage.

The whole strategy can easily become a metaphor for our spiritual lives, which must have a firm foundation upon Christ as our Rock, or on the strong piers of belief and trust, enabling us to rise above any contemporary threat or cultural deviation.

Our modern Western culture follows upon two millennia’s worth of threats to belief—a veritable stockpile of weapons, if you will—arising either from within or, at other times, from without the Church. From within, we can cite heresies that have plagued our community from its earliest days. God chose great saints, holy men and women, who used their prayer-driven insights and called upon heroic courage to fight these enemies of truth and lead the Church to new positions of strength. Often, they were obvious errors, like denying Christ’s divinity despite the Scriptural proclamation.

Today, I believe the threats are more subtle. They cloak themselves in comfortable disguises so that they look just like good common sense. Take materialism, for example—the misguided belief that being rich is the way to true happiness. Most of the people in the advertising universe seem young and energetic and bursting with happiness as they hold a certain product in their hands. Or perhaps they are more mature and tell us about investments that have made them comfortable and worry-free. Just one false tenet of a fake joy.

So we must be vigilant. We must know Christ’s teachings, which are the same as Church teachings, and hold to them when these “storms” come along. As the old hymn reminds us, time and time again: “The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ the Lord.”

I don’t understand electricity, but I’m no fool. I’m not going to sit around in the dark until I do. The same is true of salvation. I don’t fully understand how God could become man, how He could die as the basis for my forgiveness, or how He could give you and me a new life. But only a fool would ignore such a great opportunity to build a life upon it just because he didn’t understand it.

God love you and give you His Easter peace.

Rev. Peterson’s Reading & Gospel Summary

Reading I: Acts 6: 1-7

The selection of seven “good men” picked ultimately by the Holy Spirit but voted on by the community is a necessity brought about by the growth of the early Church. Their task would be to serve the material needs of the community. Meanwhile the Twelve will continue to serve the spiritual needs.

Reading II: 1 Peter 2: 4-9

The author pictures the Church as a spiritual temple built by believers as living stones. They in turn are built upon Christ as the foundation Stone. They also become a chosen race and royal priesthood of the faithful.

The Gospel: John 14: 1-12

Jesus wants to protect His disciples from discouragement and despair at His death. He makes His claim as the sole Savior of the world and the one Mediator between men and God. As such He will grant whatever we ask.