Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the Seventh Sunday after Easter: Year A
“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.” (John 17:11 NRSV)
Perhaps the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), is not the best translation of this prayer between our Lord Jesus and his inmost self, God Almighty. I always compare other translations as I prepare the words I intend to share with you. The New International Version, (NIV) reads, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.”
The difference between these two readings is, in the NRSV, Jesus indicates he has already left the world. In the NIV, Jesus talks about a very near future departure. I am always skeptical about an ancient language that has been translated many, many times. What I glean from this passage, in any language, is that our Lord Jesus is standing in both dimensions, both heaven and earth at the time of His prayer.
Jesus further says that we are in Him and He is in us, and together, we are in the Creator. Wow!
As believers we should act and behave as we understand, and truly believe, that we are in our Lord, and our Lord is in us. Right now, we have one foot on earth and the other in eternal life, in paradise. Our call in this life is to train our hearts to love God, ourselves and others. We can’t actually see heaven, but I believe heaven can see us. Those who have gone on before us can see us here before we get there. They now have both feet in heaven. I don’t think God lets them reach back to advise us. But every now and then I think an aunt, uncle, sibling, parent or loved one slips through God’s gate and drops us a hint of what we should be thinking and doing. It may even be the Holy Spirit of Jesus Himself!
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day (BCP p.226)
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
onewhoponders 