Scripture for Sunday April 21st, 2019
Luke 14:7-14
And he put forth a parable...
7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Easter Sunday
Surely, even the angels in heaven keep these pascal solemnities with joy: the glory of that victorious Lion who hath triumphed over death and hell is even to them matter of rejoicing. It is the Sabbath of the new world, our Passover from everlasting death to life; our true jubilee, the first day of our week, and the chief in our calendar. Herein our Phoenix rose from His ashes, our Eagle renewed His feathers, the First-begotten of the dead was born from the womb of the earth. Christ, like the sun eclipsed by the moon, got Himself out by His resurrection; and, as the sun by the moon, He was darkened by them to whom He gave light. His death did justify us, His resurrection did justify His death. He buried the law with Himself, and both with honor; He raised up the gospel with Himself, and both with glory. His resurrection was the first stone of the foundation, "In Christ shall all be made alive," and the last stone of the roof, for God assures us He shall come to judgement by this token, that He raised High up from the dead (Acts 17:31).
- Adams, 1654 In A Homiletic Encyclopaedia of Illustrations in Theology and Morals, R.A. Bertram, Editor, Ballantyne Press: London. 1880, page 732.