Faith

Peacemaker or Pacemaker? Thursday, 7th Week of Easter – Acts 22:30, 23:6-11/ John 17:20-26

Read also https://www.pottypadre.com/the-cat-among-the-pigeons/ – a reflection on the first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles.

The prayer of Jesus for his disciples comes to an end and so does the farewell discourse. Jesus has prayed for the disciples because in a “little while” they will no longer see him and while “in a little while” they will see him. Now, the stage has been set for satan, the ‘ruler of this world’ to do what he does best, deceive.

Christ has prayed that that his disciples be protected, guarded and sanctified. In this text, he prays for unity. Four times in this prayer Jesus uses the word “one.” Christ knows that the evil one causes disunity among believers and even more because these apostles who “know that the father has sent Jesus” (17:25) are themselves to become proclaimers to the world.

Up to verse 19 of chapter 17, Jesus has been praying for his disciples. Now Jesus asks for protection, guidance and sanctification not only for “these” (his disciples) but also “on behalf of those who will believe in me through their (disciples) word.” This is the mission mandate in the Gospel of John. The darkness of this world, led by satan, will be destroyed by the message carried by not just the disciples but those to whom the disciples evangelize to. Satan knows that this is open season for war.

Yet Christ is a realist. He knows that Satan uses simple yet effective ways of destroying the children of light; he causes disunity. Jesus prays today, “that they may be one.” (John 17:21) Unity overcomes the divisive tactics of Satan. Those in the Church who actively cooperate by causing division in the Church to further their own personal agendas are nothing but agents of satan. The fragments of Christian Churches is perhaps the biggest scandal of the Church for it has proved the words of Christ true.

Ask yourself today, do people rally around you to be a ‘peacemaker’ or as a consequence of your divisive tactics do others need a pacemaker? People approach us knowing who we truly are and this way their agenda is fulfilled. There is a warning here for many “pillars” of our Churches who refuse to be simple bricks in the wall. These parish pillars are often causes of disunity when they assert their way, their agenda and their plans simply because they do not want to let go of power and position in the Church. They have turned the service of God into a tool of domination. When opposed, they wipe out those who wish to come in and serve. Their cunning agendas and back street gossip has been the cause of the fall of the mission of Christ.

Today, stand on the side of unity for that is where God and Jesus stand.

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Protect, Guard, Sanctify – Wednesday, 7th Week of Easter – Acts 20:28-33/ John 17:11b-19

As I prepare to leave the parish of St Stephen’s Church as its shepherd, I find my prayers for the parish similar to the prayer of Christ in John chapter 17. Perhaps having read these words of scripture in the past, these words of Christ have subtly been imprinted on my soul. I pray with Jesus that every parishioner of the parish may be protected(verse11), guarded(verse12) and sanctified(verse16).

Jesus is praying to Father and his disciples are around him. They can not only see his lips move but can hear the words of his prayer loud enough to remember and record them. Cleary, Jesus is concerned for his disciples. He will no longer be in this world, a world ruled by satan. (14:30) Yet clearly, Jesus also tells us, that while satan is the ruler of the world he has no power over Christ. This means that satan has power over us if we are detached from Him, “the vine.” This is why he asked us to abide in him, to be attached to him and emphatically said, “apart from me you can do nothing.”

The prayer of Jesus, found in this section of the text, is comforting. Jesus has guarded every one of the flock given to him by the father; he has lost not one except the one who wanted to be lost. (17:12) While on earth Jesus protected the disciples from satan and he did this in the Fathers name. But now he has to return to the father (verse13) for his hour has come (17:1) and this is the moment satan has been waiting patiently in the wings for.

Twice in this text Jesus proclaims that the disciples “do not belong to the world.” (17:14&16) Clearly, the disciple lives in this world but he is not of the world. There is no clearer teaching than verse 15 that emphasizes that Christianity does not insulate us from the trials and struggles and temptations of this world. Jesus says, “I am not asking you (Father) to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.”

It is in this context that Jesus prays that we are protected, guarded and sanctified in the truth. He wants us to be protected in the name of Jesus; a name given by the Father himself. When we are assailed by the evil one, we simply need to call upon the powerful name of Jesus and satan will be forced to release us.

Jesus prays that we be guarded. As long as Jesus was in the world, he protected us from the evil one but now that he will depart from this world satan will come in full force to attack the disciples. The doors of the disciple’s hearts need to be bolted and shut confident that just as Jesus guarded the disciples from satan so also now, they will be guarded in spite of the attacks to come.

Finally, Jesus prays that the disciples may be sanctified in the truth. To be sanctified (haggios in Greek) is to be set apart. The disciples are to be set apart in their manner of life; in standing for ‘THE TRUTH’ not just ‘a truth’. The word of God (Jesus) is the truth. It is in Jesus’ name that they are set apart and not just a blessing that is given to them as protection.

Today, sign yourself with the triple protection of Christ; that you may be protected, guarded and sanctified.

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The ultimate eavesdrop – Tuesday, 7th Week of Easter – Acts 20:17-27/ John 17:1-11

Read also https://www.pottypadre.com/mirroring-christ/ – reflection on the first reading.

John 17 gives us the chance to “overhear” an intimate conversation between Jesus and his Father. Talk about the ultimate eavesdrop!!! When you think about it, it’s rather stunning to realize that we are privy here to a conversation between two members of the divine Trinity. In this text, you and I are standing on holy ground as we listen to the prayer of Jesus.

It really is nothing short of astonishing to imagine this passage as a model for prayer. Remember, in the Gospel of John there is no, “teach us how to pray” followed by the Lord’s Prayer. This is the Lord’s Prayer according to John.

For the next three days we will hear Jesus pray for his disciples in chapter 17; he is talking to his Father. The lectionary will then take us to the days just before Pentecost in chapter 21. For now, several themes run through this text. Jesus speaks of ‘the hour’ that is not coming but the hour that has come. Jesus asks that the Father may glorify him with the glory that he had before the world existed when Jesus was in the presence of God. Remember that in the Gospel of John Jesus is introduced as the Word who was with God and was God (John 1:1)

Jesus also touches on the theme of ‘eternal life’ that gives us the knowledge of God as ‘Him who is one and true’ and in his son Jesus Christ. He speaks of his proclamation to those from the world that were entrusted by God to Jesus and that this knowledge has fully and faithfully been transmitted. Jesus came to the world but not all accepted him because many chose to be subjects of the ‘ruler of this world’; satan. We as believers, also have to face a hostile world. But the good news of this prayer is that we don’t face it alone. We’ve got no less than the Sovereign God of the universe on our side!

One thing that should strike you is that Jesus is making this prayer out aloud, in the presence of his disciples. They can hear his prayer for them. It must have been so remarkable to have the Lord pray for them even in his hour of suffering. That thought itself is so consoling. The Lord prays with us and for us and he prays to the Father commending us to the loving care of God. He says, “Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me”. Jesus is praying for me, for us, asking the Father to protect us. Elsewhere in the Gospels Jesus says that not even a leaf falls without the Father knowing, and that all the hairs on our head are counted.

Jesus speaks from the depths of his heart. He tells us of the Father’s love for him and his love for his Father and the Father’s love for us. The Father’s love continues to be with him right to the end, even to the Cross, to the point of giving his all, his life.

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Take Courage – Monday, 7th Week of Easter – Acts 19:1-8/ John 16:29-33

Read also https://www.pottypadre.com/catechized-with-a-gun-to-your-head-acts-191-8/ – a reflection on the first reading of today.

The farewell discourse comes to an end with these verses. In Chapter 17 Jesus will make a prayer to the Father for his disciples and in Chapter 18 he will be delivered into the hands of evil men. For now, he draws this discourse to an end.

The discourse seemed to have ended when the disciples seemed to have finally understood what Jesus was saying. “Now you are speaking plainly not in any figure of speech. Now we know that you know all things and do not need to have anyone question you.” (John 16:29&30). The farewell discourse was peppered with questions from Peter, Thomas, Phillip and Thaddeus. They were really spokespersons of the apostles. Then finally, when the reality of Jesus’ passion and death dawned on them, they were numbed in silence and sorrow. It is now that they truly think they believe.

But Jesus knew his apostles better. They who finally claimed that they believed in him would abandon him one chapter later. He knew the ‘hour’ is coming. This is the hour he spoke of when he was first asked in chapter two by his mother to work that sign in canna. He told her his hour (to glorify the Father) had not yet come and now that hour had come. It would be a lonely several hours, abandoned by the ones whom he had nourished a few hours ago with his own body.

Yet Christ professes that though abandoned, though alone, he is not lonely; the Father is with him. The unshakable, the unbreakable bond that Jesus had with his Father can never be described in written form. Jesus who would be abandoned by his own would eventually cry out several times on the cross to his Father. “Forgive them Father” and then again, “Father into your hands I commend my spirit.” And yes, there is that moment on the cross when he will say, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” In that one moment of apparent abandonment; like a creature abandoned by his creator, he calls out to his God not to his Father. Yet even in his agony he says, My God, my God and not Oh God!

Look at the sensitivity of the heart of our Lord; he is consoling the apostles when he should have been consoled. He knows the apostles will be scattered and run to their homes, that they will leave him alone. He does not speak of their abandonment in order to rub salt into their failing wounds but he says this to them so that when this happens, they “may have peace.” He wants them to understand that he understands their frailty and when, as we now know, he rose again, he told Mary to tell his BROTHERS to go to Galilee. He loved them and forgave them through it all.

His last words as he taught them were words of strength. His words to them are also his words to us, “take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John16:33b)

As you read this reflection be blessed and be assured that Jesus loves you. Take Courage!

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Looking beyond a promise – Saturday, 6th Week Of Easter – Acts 18:23-28/ John 16:23b-28

Please also read https://www.pottypadre.com/meet-apollos-the-man-not-the-spacecraft/

These are not the easiest verses in John’s gospel because they could be up for selective scripture reading by the one who desperately needs a prayer heard. Remember that Jesus is hours away from his suffering and death. He is talking to the apostles knowing that their hearts are filled with sadness. He assures them that they will see him “in a little while.”

Jesus, now addressing the apostles says to them, that until now they have not asked for anything ‘in His name’. Why is this so? They did not have to ask ‘in his name’ because they only had to ask him. Until now Jesus has been with them, until now they just had to go to him for their needs and say “they have no wine” or “what are we to feed them?”. He has been their guide and stay for the last three years and they just had to go to Him directly, he was physically accessible.

Now, knowing that he would soon be put to death and rise again; knowing that he would enter His glory at the right hand of the Father, Jesus knew that he would not be directly available to them and so he gives them another gift, “If you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Ask and you will receive so that your joy may be complete.”

Reading this passage, one might feel inclined to focus only on the promise of Jesus that the Father will give us anything that we may ask for in Jesus’ name. Ironically many of us have done exactly that and yet not got what we asked for, leaving us discouraged. I am sure that many of the readers and viewers to this blog and channel on YouTube have prayed hard for something and never got it. May I say, that this is a very poor and narrow way of looking at the text. I understand why some may only see the promise and therefore turn to the Father and ask. I understand why some may claim mighty miracles in the name of Jesus. While this is all very good, we might end up missing the woods for the trees.

There is a central truth here to be grasped; a truth beyond the promises we seek for ourselves or for others. Instead of only focusing on the words of Jesus, to ask in his name, focus for a while on another central truth that you may quickly obscure in your enthusiasm to settle on this scripture line that brings you comfort.

Jesus shares another central truth; that the father loves you! Think about it, you are loved by the Father no less. The gifts and promises are second to the love of God himself. It is easy to focus on the gift received or the prayer that is heard while we may quickly forget that the gift given comes because of the love of the giver.

Perhaps now, this scripture text can take a different form. Knowing that the Father loves each of us, we are encouraged to bring our concerns to the Father without dictating how they are to be solved. Perhaps we can place them in this loving Father’s care, and leave them there? Today would be a good day to let go of your desire for security, for control, and to open you heart to the loving presence of God.

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