5th Sunday of Easter | Sunday 15 May 2022

Today is Sunday the 15th of May in the fourth week of Easter.

Steffany Gretzinger sings, ‘Show Me Your Face’.
Moses stood on a mountain

Waiting for You to pass by
You put Your hand over His face
So in Your presence, he wouldn't die
And all of Israel saw the glory
And it shines down through the age
Now You've called me to boldly seek Your face
Show me Your face, Lord
Show me Your face
And then gird up my legs that I might stand in this holy place
Show me Your face, Lord
Your power and Your grace
(Your power and grace)
I will make it to the end if I can just see Your face
David knew there was something more
Than the ark of Your presence
In a manger Messiah was born
Among kings and peasants
And all of Israel saw the glory
And it shined down through the age
Now You've called us to boldly seek Your face
Show me Your face, Lord
Show me Your face
And then gird up my legs that I might stand in this holy place
Show me Your face, Lord
Your power and Your grace
(Your power and grace)
I will make it to the end if I can just see Your face
I know I will make it to the end if I can just see Your face

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 13:31-35
When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

As you begin to pray with this passage, imagine you are in the scene yourself… how does it feel to be called “little children”?
Imagine for a moment that you have been with Jesus, following him, eating together, journeying together, since early on in his ministry… How would you feel at hearing the words, “Where I am going, you cannot come”? Confused? Heartbroken? Abandoned? Curious maybe…

As you listen to the passage once more, spend some time savouring the new commandment Jesus gives…
As the prayer draws to a close, have you discovered anything more during this time about Jesus’ relationship with you? Talk to him about anything that has arisen for you…

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.