Easter SundayEaster SundayApril 5, 2015April 5, 2015

Isaiah 25: 6-9Isaiah 25: 6-9Acts 10:34-43Acts 10:34-43John 20: 1-18John 20: 1-18

Pandita Mary Pandita Mary RamabaiRamabai

Prophetic Witness & Prophetic Witness & Evangelist Evangelist 1858 - 19221858 - 1922

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

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A poet, scholar & champion of womens’ rights, she has been acclaimed as the "mother of modern India." During her life she struggled to define her own identity & spiritual path, in the process drawing criticism from Hindus & fellow Christians. She epitomizes efforts to bridge the spiritual traditions of the East & West; both sides felt the challenge this courageous, independent woman faced.

Ramabai was born to a wealthy Brahmin scholar & his much younger wife. Her father was a devout, orthodox Hindu, but he scandalized his high caste friends by teaching his wife & daughters to read Sanskrit classics. At age 16, she walked across India, visiting Hindu shrines & attracting astonished audiences to recitations of Sanskrit poetry. Her knowledge of Sanskrit earned her the honorific "Pandita," mistress of wisdom. Soon she became the leading advocate for womens’ rights & welfare in India.

Married at age 22, her husband died of cholera after only 16 months, leaving her alone with an infant daughter. Her travels in India & her new circumstances sensitized her to the plight of widows & orphans. She set out to do something about it, establishing centers for them in Poona & Mombai, where women received basic education & training in marketable skills. Ramabai became the leading advocate for the rights &welfare of women in India.

In 1883 she accepted an invitation by a congregation of Anglican nuns to visit England. While in England she undertook a serious study of the Bible and eventually asked to be baptized.

News of her conversion provoked angry public controversy in India. Ramabai herself wrestled with her strong aversion to the cultural imperialism of foreign missionaries in India. She was determined that becoming a Christian should not be construed as a denial of her Indian culture and roots. The gospel of Christ represented for her the purest expression of her own spiritual intuitions, in particular her growing belief that to serve women and the poor was a religious and not simply a social work.

Pandita Ramabai (1858-1922) Christian & Reformer:

"People must not only hear about the kingdom of God, but must see it in operation, on a small scale perhaps & in imperfect form, but a real demonstration nevertheless."

Collect for Easter BCollect for Easter BAlmighty & everliving God, in your tender love for humanity you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take on our nature & suffer death on the cross, giving us the example of great humility: Grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, & also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives & reigns with you & the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.

 

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA -- Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

Prayer for Easter B [Pandita Ramabai]Prayer for Easter B [Pandita Ramabai]Everliving God, you called women at the tomb to witness your Son’s resurrection; We thank you for your servant Pandita Ramabai’s courageous & independent spirit & we pray, like her, we may embrace your gift of new life, caring for the poor, braving resentment to uphold the dignity of women & offering the riches of our culture to our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives & reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Time Stamp: 718 BC

Viewed as praise for God delivering Jews from captivity, flash forward to praises offered to God for Christ's victories over spiritual enemies & comforts he provides all believers.

Blessings of the Gospel

Gospel grace a royal feast for all people, not just for showGospel preparations to receive penitents & supplicants with God [V 6]--God is master of feast--Invitees are Jew & Gentile alike--Figurative venue ~ Mount ZionFare is best of the bestWorld free of shadows/ignorance [V 7]Death to be conquered; its power broken [V 8]Grief banished; joy prevails [V 8]Church to welcome blessings of foregoing verses [V 9]

8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. 9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

6 And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. 7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

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Context

The sermon Peter preaches in Centurion Cornelius’ compound, initiates Apostolic outreach to Gentiles worldwide.

Peter Steps Across aThresholdCaesaria is a Roman garrison townOff limits to JewsPeter surely wonders if his time is upIndeed his TIME HAD COME

Peter’s MessageGod’s loves everyoneJews do not corner the marketWhat must you do?--Believe--Declare Jesus Christ is Lord--Be born again in Spirit

42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

34Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand God shows no partiality,35but in every nation anyone who fears him & does what is right is acceptable to him.36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

Time Stamp: c. 30 AD

Mary, John & Simon Peter are confused by signs of resurrection. Mary understands the moment as Jesus speaks her name.

What Do You Mean “Gone?”

•Mary is 1st on scene

•Peter & John must see for selves

He Did What He Said He’d Do Who took the body?--Joseph/Nicodemus ~ 2nd thoughts? --Chief Priests?--Roman authorities?No greater concern than substantial proof of their Master’s resurrection--Jesus said he would do so--Proof he is indeed the Messiah--Sign of Signs--Disbelievers NOW believed--Enemies try to debunk “ruse” --Most worrisome: proved he who they tried to kill was truly a MessiahHis resurrection undertaken for our redemption & salvation

Early on the 1st day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw the stone had been removed from the tomb.2So she ran and went to Simon Peter & the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, & said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, & we do not know where they have laid him.”

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St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned & said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!.” 17Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers & say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father & your Father, to my God & your God.’”18Mary Magdalene went & announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord…”