For the readings of today’s mass, go to
https://www.livingwithchrist.ca/images/article_images/pdf/May_26_Pages_from_LWC_May2020-lowres-2.pdf
For these next 3 days we will be reading through John 17. This chapter, part of Jesus’ Last Supper Discourse (Chapters 13 – 17) is often referred to by scripture scholars as the “Priestly Prayer” of Jesus. In this chapter, He outlines the intimate relationship He has with the Father, a relationship built on a unity of knowledge and love. He also expresses His intense desire that His disciples, not just then, but to this day, will come to know and share in this relationship. As well, we in turn are also called to love one another just as the Father and Son love one another, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
This chapter, like much of St. John’s gospel, uses complex phrasing and images. If one had to try to distill this chapter down, one could say that Jesus wants us to understand is that God is about relationships - the relationship within the Holy Trinity, and an ever-expanding network of relationships with His people. As Pat Marrin points out, if we ever had the opportunity to look into an old family trunk and found the love letters of, say, our grandparents, in which they express their desire to be together, their hopes and dreams for the future, we would then understand that their relationship, their their love is why we are here. In so many ways, their wishes, their love would be manifested in their children, grandchildren and the generations to come. We also would come to understand that their stories are our stories as well. And as we gain insights into their love, we get a good glimpse into the love between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a love that has been manifested in the countless generations of all people, for all time, and in the time that is to come. Regardless of our racial or ethnic background, we can also then understand how we are all descendants of the intimate love between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and we can also fully appreciate the prayer of Jesus at the end of today’s gospel passage: “That they (us) may be one, as We are one”.
5 more days to Pentecost. Veni, sancte spiritus. Come, Holy Spirit: May we be one with our God, and one with each other.
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This Friday evening, beginning at 7 pm, we will be holding a livesteam Adoration and Benediction Prayer service with Praise and Worship music in our parish church. Please join us as we come the end of the Easter season and look forward to this Sunday’s great feast of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost. Stay tuned to our parish website for the posting and link for the livestream.