Lectionary for the seventh Sunday of Easter
Jesus said: ‘I do not pray for my disciples only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.’ John 17:20-21
Collect. God, our creator and redeemer, your Son Jesus prayed that his followers might be one. Make all Christians one with him, as he is one with you, so that in peace and concord we may carry to the world the message of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading. Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21. The theme for both readings this week is our unity under God. The selection of verses from Revelation maintains that message of unity. We are reminded that Jesus is going to reward all those who have kept the faith. Just as Jesus, as the Alpha and Omega, has been Lord from beginning to end so each believer is to keep the faith until the end. Together the faithful enjoy the fruit of the tree of life as welcomed members in the City of God.
Then the angelic invitation to come and enjoy the blessings God has prepared is received with great enthusiasm. The reading ends with an encouragement to be ready and anticipate this blessed and victorious return of Christ Jesus.(“Surely I am coming soon!”) It is good to remember that despite all the upsets and disappointments there is going to be a victorious ending when God’s plan is finally put into place and Jesus is Lord of all.
It is good to focus on the positive message that these verses portray because they bring the anticipation of a future hope when wrongs will be righted and justice and mercy will prevail. It is also good to spend a moment reviewing the verses that have been jumped over for they seem to bring a divisive note by reminding us that entry into the city does have some conditions. If we are to be a unified community who receive all the blessings that God has prepared, both now and into the future, then we can’t make our own rules we must abide by the word and the direction of God. My mind is drawn to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians when he considers the congregation in Corinth and produces a list not too dissimilar than the one listed here in Revelation and then he writes. “And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinth. 6:11) Thus rather than being divisive it is a reminder that each one of us becomes an inheritor of God’s blessing never by right, but always because God in his grace has declared that by the action of Jesus we are made righteous. It is here that our unity begins for all of us begin at the same starting point.
Prayer. Lord God, you are the giver of life, and all that has breath owes its existence to you. Help us to trust you more and more and face life unafraid of what the future might hold. Take our hand and walk with us through the shadows as well as through the brilliant sunshine for in both instances we need you Lord. Let our love for you flourish and through your love for us help us to find peace and joy close to you. For this we ask through the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom be all honour and praise. Amen
The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! The heavens declare God’s righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. Psalm 97:1, 6
Reading. John 17:20-26. This reading reminds us that what Jesus wills for his followers is a unity with God. Not that we would be close to God or able to “see” him, but that we would be in unity with him. Jesus likens the “oneness” to the relationship that Jesus has with the Father. This then reminds us that the oneness that Jesus is praying for is not easily achieved. Firstly to be in unity with God requires that we are pure and spotless. This is why we can only come to a unity like the one that Jesus prays for through his own spotless purity. It is not about whether some are good enough or not good enough, this requirement speaks of perfection well beyond human perfection. Yet before we begin to even think about perfection we need to think about love; not our love for God but God’s love for us. “We love because he first loved us”. 1 John 4:19. It is love that creates the desire in each believer to submit themselves to God, and willingly accept whatever is required to be in step with God. We most often think in terms of rules and regulations but what Jesus is praying for is all about relationship; a relationship of loving acceptance to be obedient to God’s will and way.
We note that while the prayer is directed at the gathered disciples the prayer also gathers in all those who believe the teaching of the disciples whom Jesus has sent out; namely the apostles. The major feature of that teaching is that God’s love was poured out on us through the cross. Indeed it was the cross that best expressed the loving unity that existed and continues to exist between the Father and the Son. Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice and the Father recognised that gift and from death restored Jesus as the New Adam. (1 Corinth 15:20ff). Each new believer shares in that new beginning and so there is a unity of love and purpose for all who continue trusting in Jesus. By keeping the cross central to our faith we keep the unity that Jesus prayed for central. It is when that unity is clearly demonstrated that the good news of the Gospel is most clearly heard.
Prayer. Gracious Father, your Son Jesus Christ prayed that his followers might be one in him. Lord, today may we make that prayer our own and in sincerity and trust be ready to reach out to all who trust in your name. May we look forward to a time when there truly will no longer neither Jew or Greek, male or female but all will be one through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. As we trust in the unity that Jesus has won so empower us that we might carry to the world your message of love; This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Collect. Father, the unity of the Church is both your gift and your desire; may we be one as you are one with Christ, that you may be glorified in our life together, and the world may believe for Christ’s sake. Amen.
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