That They May be One – 29 May 2022 – Seventh Sunday of Easter
John 17:20–26
Jesus mentions “those who will believe in me.” What a powerful thing to imagine that Jesus has prayed for all of us who seek to follow his way, even today!
Two themes dominate this prayer: that Christ’s followers will “be one” and that they will continue to live in the love of God as he has demonstrated it for them. . . In the years since Christ’s return to heaven, many divisions have crept into his church. Perhaps this is the very reason that Christ felt compelled to pray for the future generations that would be entrusted with practicing the faith and telling the story. It is quite possible that he knew how difficult it would be for us to all get along.
Signs of improving unity among various traditions within the church abound; numerous agreements and statements of concord have been drafted among representatives of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Catholic, and Protestant churches in recent years. Unfortunately, some of our worst divisions are within our own traditions—Baptists versus Baptists, Episcopalians versus Episcopalians, Catholics versus Catholics, and so forth. Perhaps there is no better time for us to return to the prayer of Jesus from John 17:20: “I ask not only on behalf of these [who have believed that you sent me (v 8)], but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one...so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
As we have read frequently in John’s Gospel, Jesus invokes the love of the Father for the Son—a love that he has sought to share with his disciples—as the basis for living a life pleasing to God. The beat of Jesus’ heart is revealed in verse 24: “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.” –– John P. Fairless
Acts 16:16–34
Acts 16:16–34 is part of the account of the mission of Paul and Silas in Philippi, and another healing miracle performed by Paul (cf 14:8–10). Although, unlike the preceding miracle where Paul seems moved by compassion, this time he responds like the judge in Luke 18:2–5, answering a woman’s request because of her persistence! You would think he would recognize or at least be pleased by this pagan slave girl’s recognition of the God of Jesus Christ as the Most High God. –– John P. Fairless
Revelation 22:12–14,16–17,20–21
In this final Sunday before Pentecost, it is fitting to conclude the series of readings from the Apocalypse with Revelation 22, reminding us of the eternal nature of Christ, and of the work of God that stretches from before the beginning of time until time will be no more. Christ is “Alpha and Omega, the first and the last,” coming soon to complete the work of redemption. The Spirit, present from the opening pages of Holy Scripture, is now at the ending leading at creation to pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!” –– John P. Fairless
John P. Fairless is senior minister of the First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Florida.
Homily Service 40, no. 6 (2007): 29–36.