Third Sunday of Easter

Lectionary: 48

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth
and under the earth and in the sea,
everything in the universe, cry out:
“To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever.”
The four living creatures answered, “Amen,”
and the elders fell down and worshiped.

I am told that many scientist who work for NASA are true believers in space exploration. If their hands do engineering, their hearts explore infinity. None expect to see the day when a party of colonists might set off for an exoplanet orbiting a distant star. Not even the United States, if we ever pay off our debts, could afford to launch a vehicle ten times larger than an aircraft carrier. It would have to be an international venture; and an act of sheer faith because,as an investment it would not pay off for a thousand years, if ever. 

But they believe our destiny is in the stars. Perhaps they are inspired by Hebrews 10, in a passage which describes the ancient Hebrew prophets: 

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

I suppose some at NASA hope to announce the Kingdom of God to the denizens of stellar space, for the Book of Revelation has already declared that all the universe must acclaim Jesus as Lord. If that is the case, we can stow our rapture regalia for at least a millennium if not a googol of years. 

Seriously though: Witnesses of the Resurrection, knowing the astonishing wisdom, beauty and power of the Holy Spirit, can believe nothing less of Jesus. He is indeed the Lord of all creation, including the nearest subatomic particles and the farthest stars.


But are making room in their starship for several bishops, since the Church could not travel such distances without them?