Dear Friends in Christ at Holy Spirit, St. Helen’s, and St. Mary’s,

Throughout the Gospel of John there are a myriad of clues to the intentions of the Father sending his Son through the power of the Spirit. Those clues point to union, unity, oneness, and restoration of our original state in the Garden of Eden.

The first comes in the very prologue to the gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Second, in chapter 3 Jesus tells us, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.” The mission is restoration.

Third, in chapter 6, speaking as the “Bread of Life,” Jesus says, “…And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me…”

Fourth, now in chapter 10 we hear about the Good or Noble Shepherd. Jesus continues this theme of union when he says, “I am the Good Shepherd, and I know mine and mine knows me and I know the Father…”

Fifth, in today’s gospel reading, taken from the 15th chapter of John, Jesus refers to himself as the Vine. “I am the vine, you are the branches.” That sets up the next line, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.” Clearly, he is speaking about union and oneness. He will go on to say, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want…”

Thus, in chapter 17 comes the clearest declaration that we are meant to be in union with God. He prays, “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just we are one.” He continues, “…so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you…so that they may be one, as we are one.” Clearly, God desires to be one with us.

Fr. Tom