(Homily will be on YouTube on Sunday May 3 with a home Holy Communion service
https://youtu.be/g-YK8ywGVec)
In John 10.1-10 Jesus challenges the Pharisees to give up their legalistic dependence on the Law of Moses and depend on Him as Messiah and Saviour. Jesus is describing Himself as the new shepherd of Israel and the (not a) “gate” each person must pass through into eternal life in His Kingdom. The test is that they know His voice and He knows them personally. The big question is how do you have a relationship with someone who died over 2,000 years ago? The Good News of Easter is that we can have an intimate, personal relationship with the Risen Jesus. The other Readings (Acts 2.42-47 and 1 Peter 2.19-25) teach us how to do this:
· Jesus left a community of Apostles and believers in a growing home church.
· This is where we all are today.
· Sharing a spiritual communion service and teaching how to develop a home relationship with Jesus through:
o Reading and sharing the “Apostles teaching”
o “Fellowship” or developing a caring community
o Relevant “prayer” and worship that connects us
o Outreach or sharing to serve the needs of others
1. Developing Relationship through “Apostolic teaching”
