6 Easter/Year A/May 14, 2023
Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:7-18; John 14:15-21
Collect of the Day: (A New Zealand Prayer Book)
Eternal God, light of the minds that know you, joy of the hearts that love you, strength of the wills that serve you; grant us so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may gladly serve you, now and always. Amen.
Our gospel reading today, picks up where we left off last week…in chapter 14 of the gospel of John. Last Sunday, today, and next week’s gospel reading are all part of a section of the gospel of John, often referred to as Jesus’ farewell discourse…the section of the gospel of John, (chapters 14-17) where Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure from this world. He’s trying to offer assurance for the days ahead when he will no longer be with them. He’s trying to comfort them, in the midst of their grief and confusion. And he’s reminding them once again…that love is the way, that love never ends…and that love will always be there to lead them and guide them to finding peace and solace and healing and strength to go on, from the center of their hearts where he will abide in them, and they will abide in him.
In today’s gospel reading, love comes up a lot, as it most always does when Jesus is engaged in some important conversations and teachings with his disciples. The reading begins with Jesus saying to them: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Jesus goes a little deeper and further with his teaching about the commandment to love one another as he has loved them, by assuring his followers that even though he would be leaving them, they would not be left orphaned or comfortless, or without any reminders of this love that he has given them and shown them while he was with them. He promises them that another Advocate, the Holy Spirit, will be sent to them, to be with them forever and remind them of this love. And that they will recognize and know this Spirit of truth, because this Love abides with them, and will be in them.
The gospel reading today ends where it began with the reminder to keep the commandments that Jesus taught them: “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
In the gospel of John, do you ever feel like Jesus is talking in circles? Another episcopal priest posed that question during an online mini-retreat I attended recently.
And it was specifically referring to today’s short gospel passage…as Jesus seems to circle around in his message about love and his commandments to love one another, as he has loved us…reminding them, as he always does…that love is the way…and that his love will always be a breath away…
As I took time to reflect more on that question…the image of a labyrinth came to mind…
***Talk about Labyrinths/share handouts…
So, perhaps Jesus isn’t talking in circles, afterall…but in a way that invites us and leads us to prayerfully walk with him and follow him in a way of love, that leads us back to the place in the center of our hearts, where another Advocate, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth…will remind us of the love and light of Christ that abides in us, and will be with us always… reminding us around and around…that love is the way, that love never ends…and that love will always be there to lead us and guide us to finding peace and solace and healing and strength to go on, from the center of our hearts where God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit abide in us, and we will abide in them. Amen.
Rev Julie Platson, St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, Sitka, AK
HYMN RECORDING: Libera - Love Shine a Light
Closing prayer/Hymn: Love shine a light (words and music by Kimberley Rew)
Love shine a light in every corner of my heart
Let the love light carry, let the love light carry
Light up the magic in every little part
Let our love shine a light in every corner of our hearts
Love shine a light in every corner of my dreams
Let the love light carry, let the love light carry
Like the mighty river, flowing from the stream
Let our love shine a light in every corner of my dreams
And we're all gonna shine a light together
All shine a light to light the way
Brothers and sisters, in every little part
Let our love shine a light in every corner of our hearts
Love shine a light in every corner of the world
Let the love light carry, let the love light carry
Light up the magic, for every boy and girl
Let our love shine a light in every corner of the world
And we're all gonna shine a light together
All shine a light to light the way
Brothers and sisters, in every little part
Let our love shine a light, in every corner of our hearts
And we're all gonna shine a light together
All shine a light to light the way
Brothers and sisters, in every little part
Let our love shine a light in every corner of our hearts