Thursday 16 May 2024

Today is Thursday 16th May, in the 7th week of Eastertide.

The Choir of Royal Holloway sings, ‘One In Christ’ by George Arthur.

When we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living you declared your love and opened the gate of glory.


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 17:20-26

‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

‘Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’

Continuing on from yesterday, Jesus' prayer turns from his disciples to the wider world, desiring all to be one. When you think of the world, what comes to mind?

The love expressed by Jesus is one from the foundation of the world. What is it like hearing that this wider world has been loved from the very beginning?

How would you like the world to be, recognising that love from God?

Let's hear the reading again. Notice the final words Jesus says...

Jesus says that God's love will be made known to all and in all. How would you like to respond to God on hearing that?

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.