Seventh Sunday of Easter (Sunday after Ascension) 24th May 2020
Sentence: ‘Go and make disciples of all nations,’ Jesus commands; ‘I am with you always, to the close of the age.’ Matthew 28.19–20
Acts 1.6-14
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7 He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Hear the word of the Lord
1 Peter 5
1 Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you
2 to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly.
3 Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.
5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for
‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
8 Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.
10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
12 Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you, and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
13 Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark.
14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Hear the word of the Lord
The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John 17.1-11
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. 6 ‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
Reflection: There are a number of ways one could delve into understanding Jesus’ prayer before us in John’s gospel. John Chapter 17 concludes the long, final speech of Jesus to his followers that began way back in Chapter 13. Our reading finishes at verse 11 but if you have your Bible handy, read the entire chapter 17 as one because I suggest that the prayers that Jesus prays are encouraging for us, especially as we face the present times of pandemic and isolation, one from another.
Verses 1-8 comprise the beginning of a prayer in which Jesus reiterates his relationship with, authority received from, and activities for God.
Verses 9-19 are prayers on behalf of Jesus' followers.
Verses 20-26 are prayers on behalf of those who will become followers in the future.
As always with the book of John, we must allow ourselves to be taken on the journey that his words lead us on, with an openness of mind, despite what sometimes might seem like repetition of text. Through the words of the scriptures we sometimes find a doorway to help us appreciate the true life that comes from Jesus. Through the Word, we see his heart as he earnestly prays for us as his future believers. “Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one”. There is a sense that Jesus is truly united to the Father but also there is a tenderness to us, his believers.
The author of John wants us the SEE Jesus, and to see Jesus is to see the one who sent him; is to see the glory of the one who sent him; is to see the honour / majesty / purpose / worth of the one who sent him; and not just sent him; but who is IN him. “So that they may be one, as we are one.”
During Jesus’ life on earth he performed many signs, these are recorded in John and point to God’s glory. The crucifixion completes Jesus’ work of glorifying God on earth. For by the laying down his life he gives himself completely so that the world may know of Jesus love for God and God’s love for the world.
By his resurrection and ascension Jesus returns to the heavenly glory that God prepared for him in love, and Jesus prays that his followers will one day join him in the Father's presence to share in this glory and love. This is eternal life. To see in Jesus the source of true life; the only true God. This revelation of glory, of the presence of God, is the work of Jesus. This is what draws us into relationship with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
You’ve heard it said, a cord with three strands is not easily broken. Believers are unified with God, Christ, the Spirit and one another.
I remember many years ago hearing a wonderful talk that spoke of the way we are entwined by the Spirit of God to God- he in us and us in him. Imagine a rope that is used to moor a boat to a pier. The rope is very thick in diameter and comprises of many, many strands interwoven together- this is what makes it so strong. That is what our lives are like with Jesus when we receive his spirit and yearn and seek for him every moment and every day in our life. We become so entwined, so interwoven with him in us and us in him that we become one, just as Jesus and the Father are one. And this also entwines us to each other, by the unity of the Holy Spirit and the mystery of faith.
Now, remembering that this gospel reading is part of Jesus final speech, I have to wonder what is basis of Jesus motivation as he prays.
Rick Warren writes in “The Purpose Driven Life,” “I have been at the bedside of many people in their final moments, when they stand on the edge of eternity, and I have never heard anyone say, “Bring me my diplomas! I want to look at them one more time. Show me my awards, my medals, that gold watch I was given.” When life on earth is ending, people don’t surround themselves with objects. What we want around us is people – people we love and have relationships with.
As we begin to come out from our time of strict isolation, in a way we can identify with Jesus, we can begin to reassociate with the people who are near and dear to us. Through these uncertain times, I don’t know about you but I have been praying lots that God will keep all people, especially those whom I know and love safe. My humanness draws me to pray for them.
Jesus is heading towards his final days on earth, he is not only identifying with God his Father, that God is in him and he is in God- therefore he can face what is to come with certainty.
Indeed, it seems to me our unity finds its origin in the sure sense that first and last, we belong to God. And now and then, if we are so blessed, we get a rich sense of the vast multitude of who that includes and just what that means.
But how do we find this sense of unity as we journey through our present times. How do we understand the belonging to the vast multitude particularly when we can still not worship together in the one location and when we are limited in who and how many we are allowed to meet with in person. I note that although most people whom I speak to, on the surface at least, seem to be handling the isolation reasonably well; I suggest for many, there is an undercurrent of loss, loneliness and fear. You may think you are the only one feeling the way that you do, but I seem to be finding more and more, people are feeling lonely and the isolation and uncertainty is beginning to take its toll.
One thing you may have picked up is that I have been trying to encourage people of the parish to connect with one another, check in and see how others are traveling, and also make the effort to find ways to worship, yes using the material that I am supplying but also using the technology that you have. Watch services on TV, on the internet, read what you can, use the prayer book if you have one but reach out to one another and encourage each other. Above all do as much as you can personally and corporately to keep your eyes on Jesus.
Jesus prays: ‘Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.’ He doesn’t pray for our health, wealth or comfort, he prays primarily for us to be united in the multitude who proclaim his name, with those who know that gift of God that is within and empowers.
As I watched the service from the Grafton Cathedral last Sunday I was struck by the number of people who were connecting and watching. Each participating from their own home and yet united as people from our diocese. The communion of saints, together in unity because the Spirit of God was connecting them and is connecting them with all God’s Holy people.
Ultimately, the message of Jesus prayer that comes from my reflection is this: "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." Knowing is not an abstract thing, a knowledge that we "possess." It is relationship. We know God by trusting and living the commandments. "As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
The message of Jesus prayer reminds us that eternal life begins now. It’s not something we wait for in the future, it is ours to receive here and now. As we live and move and have our being in the only true God, the Father with Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray: Almighty God, we are very grateful that you protect us and draw us into the ultimate life, eternal life. We are very grateful that you have given us the fellowship of the saints that we might praise your holy name, know your glory and bring you glory. Even in the midst of our darker days help us to know that we are never alone. Your Spirit fills us and we are entwined to you and each other in faith to the glory of your Holy name. Amen