10 May 2026

10 May 2026 - Sixth Sunday of Easter

Transcript

I am having some problems with my voice today thanks to allergies. If my voice cracks, enjoy the humor of it. I will.

Reading:  

1 Peter 3:13-15

Write:  

Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good? But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope…

Reflect:   

By living virtuous lives, Christians will not be persecuted for doing what is wrong. But virtue has its price, the sufferings of the faithful are real. But St. Peter repeatedly calls Christians to suffer for their good deeds, like Jesus whose good deeds led to his death. But we are not to suffer for our sins. We are to overcome them – overpower them in Christ. This is part of the power of our Baptism. It unites us intimately to the work of Jesus on the cross.

The last line of our reading today says that the Christ – the righteous one – suffered for the sake of the unrighteous. And we are called to imitate Christ. Sometimes that means we must face persecution and ridicule. St. Peter, in the next verses, refers to Noah. That is a bit surprising. But his point is that Noah was righteous and God rewarded him and his family by protecting them from the Flood. We can only imagine how much ridicule he faced from the people watching him build this ark. (I am not going to get into the question of: “did it actually happen?” The lesson is valid regardless of whether someone says it happened or not! Too many people are too quick to dismiss as irrelevant these things that seem too fantastic out of the Bible.) So, the ark saved them from the water.

Saint Peter then gives us two very important verses: “This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.”

Yes, the church is correct in saying that baptism saves us. It is not just some empty ritual. It is the way in which God chooses to pass on to us the life of Jesus and how he incorporates us into the life of Jesus – into the divine life – making us part of his Royal family. It is really a second birth.

The next two verses start with the word “therefore.” Remember, when you see the word “therefore” you have to ask what it is there for. Listen to the words of St. Peter: “Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same attitude (for whoever suffers in the flesh has broken with sin), so as not to spend what remains of one’s life in the flesh on human desires, but on the will of God.”

Apply:   

When we are converted, we have to recognize that part of our lives – part of our conversion – will lead us to suffer after baptism. Now… it is not that we should search out persecution or ridicule, but we are called to be different. How many times have I said: the world does not like the fact that we are different. They don’t know what to do with true Christians. But, our acceptance of persecution and/or suffering proves that we have broken with sin. Christianity means a death to that old way of sin, a radical break with the past. But such a break can bring down suspicion and hostility from people who do not accept the call to conversion. But in living this out, our witness may be what someone else needs. Remember: today you may be the only Bible someone else reads.

As Peter said last weekend: “… you are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises’ of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” It is not now, nor should it probably ever be, “comfortable” to live a Christian life. The section of St. Peter’s first letter that we skip over in our readings is filled with exhortations to live in holiness. I will leave it to you to go back and read the third chapter, except for these two verses: “Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing.” A good friend of mine, God rest his soul, used to say, “it is always a blessing to be a blessing.”

Saint Peter is calling us to live out the power of our baptism in our lives. He is calling us to live as children of God – princes and princesses of the Kingdom.

When Charles became the king of England, I remember seeing his son, Prince William, pledge himself to his father. Did Prince Harry do the same? I don’t recall that. Who should we be emulating? Well, the only one we should want to emulate – ultimately – is Jesus. But between Charles’ and Diana’s two sons… Clear choice: William.

The only choice for each one of us? Do not compare ourselves to anyone but Jesus. This leads me to the opening line of our Gospel this weekend: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always…”

This, naturally, leads us through the Ascension and the close of Easter season in two weeks with the feast of Pentecost. 

Let me say this one more time: live as a true prince or princess of the Divine King. This is your heritage. This is your inheritance given to you at baptism. So, as St. Peter said: “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.”

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