Appropriate to the Easter season, the readings today are all about praising God, and they all deal with this idea in different ways.  The psalm instructs us all to praise God and by praising God, to reap His benefits.  The first reading and the Gospel talk about doing God’s will, including praising God.  Barnabus and Saul have been called to proclaim God’s word to the nations.  They tell of God’s glory, praise his name, and potentially win over non-believers.  They were called, and they answered this call with praise, not only their own, but to the nations to increase the people of the Lord.  “O God, let all the nations praise you!”

The Gospel is most interesting to me.  Here Jesus is saying that he himself should not be worshipped, but that his job is to praise God, and by his example lead God’s people to praise.  That we should certainly follow Jesus and through his example praise and obey God, and reap his benefits.  He is a beacon to light the darkness; he is an example that leads us all to God.  Those who have faith in Jesus really have faith in God who sent him, and those who believe in his words are actually true to the word of God.  Jesus is a path, not a destination.  He will not judge, he will not condemn, he will show the right path to avoid condemnation.  He can save through his example of praise and obedience, and whoever wants to can follow his example.  He acknowledges the importance of this charge.  Obedience to God means eternal life, and Jesus says he has spoken as he was instructed to, and he sets a good example for God’s people to follow.

We can follow Jesus’ path.  The psalm instructs us to praise God.  The Gospel describes to us the importance of obedience.  Our job is to follow Jesus by being like him.  We need to praise God and realize that our faith is a path and a journey.  By following Jesus we obey God who sent him, and by praising God we are obedient to His words.