The Seventh Sunday Of Easter - June 1, 2025 - "that they may all be one"

Summary

In this sermon on John 17, Mother Suzanne explores Jesus's high priestly prayer before his crucifixion, in which he repeatedly prays, "that they may all be one." She emphasizes that Christian unity isn't about agreeing on doctrine or politics, but about participation in common faith and purpose, finding our oneness in Christ despite our differences.

THE GOSPEL                                                                                                                                                           John 17:20-26

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." 

Artwork: That They May Be One, J. Kirk Richards - 2013

Transcript

Mother Suzanne:

Rejoice in the Lord you righteous and give thanks to his holy name. In the name of the Triune God, father, son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Please be seated. Well this morning in today's gospel, we are back at Jesus's last meal. Remember the night before Jesus will be betrayed, handed over to his enemies, deserted by his friends, tried, convicted, and ultimately crucified. We are at what is known as a hinge point where we find ourselves in the story of Jesus is intimate. Jesus knows that his death is soon and yet shows such vulnerability with those who are closest to him at the Passover table. And he opens up and shares his parting words as well as his hopes for his disciples, but also for you and for me. And in Jesus's jesusy way, he does it in the form of a prayer. Chapter 17 of John is Jesus's closing prayer. It is his parting words. Psalm have called it Jesus's high priestly prayer in that it is a prayer that he says before he knows he will die. So in the history of the church, this prayer has held tremendous importance. So this is where the gospel hits home for me today. Jesus is taking his last few steps, breathing his last few breaths, eating his last meal, and what flows from him is prayer.

Prayer isn't about changing the heart of God, but I believe it is about changing the heart of the one who does the praying, knowing that at some point, and if prayed enough, we actually become the prayers that we indeed pray for. So what's interesting about this prayer found in John 17 is that it subdivided Jesus' first praise for himself, then his disciples. But then he does this really interesting thing, the last part of the prayer. He prays for all future believers. He knows his mission will continue. And so this is our prayer for you and for me and all of those who come after us. So what was Jesus's prayer about? What is he praying for as he closes his ministry on earth? What is it that he wants his disciples to do as they carry his message forward? Remember, that's us. What is it that he wants for us?

This text is directed to us all those who will come to believe after he has died. And there is clearly one thing that Jesus desires more than anything else. And fact it is said over and over and over in this passage and it is this, that they may all be one. And if that wasn't clear enough, he says it again that they may be one and still again, that they may be completely one. Maybe you might think Jesus's last words might be layered with pronouncements to love, to teach, to be kind. And yes, we're to do all of those. We're aspire to noble and honorable ways in our lives. We are called to that. But what he chooses to pray for the night before he dies is what it means to be one with one another.

It's almost as if Jesus knew that even in Christianity there would be division, there would be strife. And so he's imploring as his life is coming to an end that we strive for unity and oneness with him, with God and with one another. It shouldn't be any surprise to say yes, we are all so very different. I'm not sure if there is a church that displays this more than ours, the Episcopal church. We are a peculiar bunch, aren't we really are. We represent all kinds of beliefs politically, socially, economically. We are a swath of all that is diverse and different. And I don't think Jesus is calling us to be one in this way. I think there is delight that there is such variety found within the church and that is good and that is blessed.

And there is no better place to see this when we all join one another at the communion rail. What do we do there? We set aside our differences and we join in one movement by lifting up our hands to receive him, to be one with our Father. So what is it that we are actually joining into? What is it that allows us to bend the knee together while we may hold radically different viewpoints about things, what enables us to do this is that Jesus prayed for us as you Father are in me, and I am in you so that they me and you may be in us, meaning the Father and the Son one. This is what our unity is grounded in divine unity. Our oneness is our desire to be joined within the oneness of God.

So the purpose of all of this, and what I believe Jesus wants us to take away is that the goal of unity that Jesus is praying for is not agreement in doctrine or politics or anything else, but rather participation in common faith and purpose oneness in Him. Our desire should be that we are so united with him that all other differences melt away mysteriously by the working of God, the Father, son and Holy Spirit, which is breathed into us on the day of our baptism. This Thursday was a feast day in the church called Ascension Day. We celebrated it outside on the street during our mobile food pantry.

There were about 40 or so kids on probation, kids who have gotten into trouble and were looking for ways to serve the community. And so before every mobile food pantry, we have a time, a prayer, a service, a Rite Three service, which is different than what we would have in here. It was different for me because there were 40 kids out there who were in trouble trying to make better the choices that they will have moving forward. So I shared with them what it meant and what it means. Ascension day that God the Father, after his death came back because he was resurrected. 40 days later, he ascended to the heavenly realm where he as seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, for all time and eternity.

Somehow that ascension was made manifest in the street to folks who had never heard it before. Four. This Thursday, ascension was also the sixth year in a row that grace has joined in the thy kingdom come prayer movement. Maybe you have seen it advertised in the E-news. This is a movement which unites and calls for millions of Christians to come together and pray. Pray for those who need to know the saving grace and love of Jesus. And we will be praying for the next week until Pentecost comes where we wait for the coming of the spirit to unleash power and goodness into the world.

And in a show of unity, today is also the Sunday where the brotherhood of the St. Andrews is going to be resurrected at Grace Episcopal Church. The last time this happened was 45 years ago. Well, that streak ends today because guess what guys? You guys are going to be a full fledged chapter again. And just like the Daughters of the King whose call is to serve, to pray and evangelize, the men of this church will be doing the same. And I give thanks for this resurrection of this chapter at Grace, y'all. The unity of the church is essential to its outreaching mission. Our oneness with one another is our witness to the world. If humankind and ceaseless disharmony with itself observes a people of manifest differences and great diversities living in joyous common cause and unwavering grateful commitment to one another, and then these people say the reason is because of the love of Jesus, y'all. That is powerful. That is gospel. That is what we have been called to. A secret of our oneness is not that we are alike, but that we are loved alike. As each of us agrees to be gathered to that love and abide in it, we are inevitably gathered to one another. And this speaks volumes to a world who is longing for oneness and love. We are one because the one love of God surrounds us, permeates and connects us. And as Jesus says by this, everyone will know that you are mine. You love one another. Amen.