John 16:12-15

Jesus said to the disciples, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

Questions for engaging the text:

- What do I observe" What am I seeing" Does this passage raise questions for me?

- Is anything attracting me, drawing my attention, or repulsing me?

-What response is emerging within me? What is my response to what is attracting me?***

-In what ways might I specifically act on my insights in the world

*** 1st three questions taken from The Art of Engaging Holy Scripture curriculum (see resources).

I really want to hear from you. Thank you for clicking on "Comments" below and adding your responses. Debra

John 14.15-17, 25-27

(Jesus said,) "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."

"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

Questions for engaging the text:

- What do I observe" What am I seeing" Does this passage raise questions for me?

- Is anything attracting me, drawing my attention, or repulsing me?

-What response is emerging within me? What is my response to what is attracting me?***

-In what ways might I specifically act on my insights in the world

*** 1st three questions taken from The Art of Engaging Holy Scripture curriculum (see resources).

I really want to hear from you. Thank you for clicking on "Comments" below and adding your responses. Debra

Reflection on John 17.20-26

Here is my reflection on John's text. I hope you will post your reflection by clicking on comments below. I look forward to seeing how this text engaged you. Debra

I observe Jesus praying. He is not only praying for his disciples but also for whoever in the future will believe the words of his disciples. And so I notice that even though these words are ancient I am immediately implicated because I believe.

I am attracted to Jesus’ inclusion of the disciples, then and now, in his relationship with God the Father. “The glory that you (God) 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…” In some mysterious way when I, or anyone, choose to believe we participate in the relationship of Jesus and God the Father. Participating in Divine relationship we “may become completely one.” It excites me to imagine being part of the Holy Trinity, actually being one in the unity that is diversity.

I respond to Jesus' prayer with my own prayer. Holy God, Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for including me and all who believe in the unity of Your divine life. Even writing that sentence feels too glorious for me. I know that I constantly forget, that my belief is fickle as a leaf drifting on spring winds. Still, Jesus proclaimed that You loved him “before the foundation of the world.” And since we are all one You must love me the same. Please give me the grace to love as Jesus loved. Let me be an instrument of Your love, a revelation of Your love in the world today. Amen

John 17.20-26 Text for Sunday, May 16th

Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. "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."

Questions for engaging the text:

- What do I observe? What am I seeing? Does this passage raise questions for me?

- Is anything attracting me, drawing my attention, or repulsing me?

- What response is emerging within me? What is my response to what is attracting me?***

- In what ways might I specifically act on my insights in the world?

*** First 3 questions taken from The ART of Engaging Holy Scripture curriculum (see resources)

I really want to hear from you. Thank you for clicking on "Comments" below and adding your responses. Debra

John 14.6-14

Here are my responses to the four questions for engaging this text.

I observe Jesus claiming identity with the Father – God. “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” And even Philip who has walked with Jesus and lived with Jesus, who has seen Jesus’ healing and heard his teaching, even Philip doesn’t get it that Jesus is the living Son of God. If even Philip doesn’t “believe” how much harder for those of us who have never seen Jesus to really “believe.”

Jesus’ promise that, “the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do,” is both attractive and disturbing. I deeply desire to love and do acts of mercy and compassion such as Jesus did. And I believe that I believe Jesus is the Incarnation of Holy God. Still, I love conditionally, I am judgmental and much of the time my actions in the world are less than compassionate and merciful. I can only deduce from this that, like Philip, I still do not “believe.”

I wonder what would happen if I more consciously and conscientiously chose to open my heart and respond to the ordinary people and situations in my life with mercy and compassion? I wonder if that would strengthen my belief? I wonder if that might help me recognize Jesus as Incarnate God? Still, I know me, there is every chance that I think I desire to love and be compassionate as was Jesus but actually I will not follow through. It seems I cannot even sustain my desire.

O Lord, give me the grace to desire to know you and make my belief strong so that my actions in the world will continue Your works of mercy and compassion. In the name of Jesus the Christ I pray. Amen

John 14.6-14

Here is my response to the four reflection questions.

I notice that Jesus in assuring Thomas and Philip that they DO know him and the Father. But the disciples seem confused. They don’t understand what Jesus means when he says, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me…” Jesus is almost pleading with them as he repeats, “Believe me… believe me.”

Jesus’ words, “I am the way and the truth and the life” draw me into them. They remind me of the story of Moses on the mountain talking with God. As God was sending Moses to lead the people out of Egypt Moses asked God for God’s name. God answered, “I AM who I AM.” It is ironic that Philip is asking Jesus to show him the Father (God) and Jesus is saying, “I am…”

O Lord, I want to believe. I want to know that You and the Father are One, the one I AM. I want to believe that I too will be sent to do the works that You do. I want to believe that what I ask in Your name will be so.

Please open my eyes to see the works that You would have me do in the world. Help me to put my confidence in You so that all that I do is for Your glory.

I hope you will post your responses too. It enriches all of us to read each other's stories.

Blessings, Debra

Hello friends,

It is a very good thing that "always we begin again" because for the past week I have been without computer and not attending to hOlybytes. Mea culpa - mea culpa. Now that I have returned to blogsville I promise I will do my best to keep you posted (ooh - that was bad).

So, let us begin again. Below is the passage for Sunday, May 1st.

John 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."

Questions for engaging the text:

- What do I observe? What am I seeing? Does this passage raise questions for me?

- Is anything attracting me, drawing my attention, or repulsing me?

- What response is emerging within me? What is my response to what is attracting me?***

- In what ways might I specifically act on my insights in the world?

*** First 3 questions taken from The ART of Engaging Holy Scripture curriculum (see resources)

I really want to hear from you. Thank you for clicking on "Comments" below and adding your responses. Debra