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Seventh Sunday of Easter |
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May 12, 2013 |
| John 17:20-26 |
| “The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me.” |
| (John 17:22-23) |
In this passage, Jesus states “that they may become perfectly one.” As we see our world torn apart by religious conflict, our people hungry, homeless, depressed and assaulted, our people killing each other, the thought of a perfect world seems an impossibility. Just today I was amazed at the very long line outside a neighboring homeless shelter. These people were hungry. Some were obviously single and alone, others were young couples, and there were families with children as well.
Christian perfection was a theme heard in many of the writings of John and Charles Wesley (just think of the hymn text references to perfection). I expect that we Christians have a long way to go when it comes to “perfection.” We certainly have a long way to go before “becoming perfectly one.” Let us journey on down that long road.
O God, grant us grace and forgiveness that we may love thee and one another with wholeness of heart in the name of Jesus. Amen.
William P. Carroll, President
The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts
Associate Dean
School of Music, Theatre, and Dance
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro