Podcast: Play in new window
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Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
In your resurrection, O Christ,
let heaven and earth rejoice. Alleluia.
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As once you ransomed your people from Egypt
and led them to freedom in the promised land,
so now you have delivered us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your risen Son.
May we, the first fruits of your new creation,
rejoice in this new day you have made,
and praise you for your mighty acts.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
John 14.7-14
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘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.’
Reflection
Jesus said: ‘… the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these.
In a world of increasing social awareness and sensitivity to the diverse needs of others we have come to recognize the notion of the ‘glass ceiling’. We place limitations upon our expectations and, therefore, we place limitations upon that which we might achieve as we go through life. Whether our glass ceilings are rooted in notions of gender, class, intellectual capacity, or whatever, they provide a damaging barrier to the achievement of our full, God-given potential. We often hear the language of the ‘glass ceiling installer’ … ‘I could not possibly do that’, ‘That is not for the likes of you and me’, ‘There is no hope of me doing that.’ These are statements of despair and resignation, they are the putty that makes those terrible glass ceilings secure.
Throughout the gospels we hear of Jesus doing wonderful deeds in the name of his, and our, Heavenly Father. He teaches and preaches with eloquence and power, he brings healing and wholeness to those who are sick, he works wondrous signs. Then, in today’s reading he says: the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these.
Jesus’ words for us today are a challenge to the strength of our faith! How strong is our belief in him? Do we believe that we might do works greater than those we read of in the gospels?
In recent times I have heard devout followers of Christ say that they know that they cannot preach, heal and work miraculous signs. But, Jesus says the true believer will not only do these things, but do even greater works. Do we not trust Jesus’ words? Do we not believe that he is speaking the truth?
We may never heal a cancer with a touch of our hands; we may never turn a jug of water into the finest wine; we may never feed five thousand people out of our lunch boxes; we may never walk across a stormy sea, but that does not mean that we cannot bring new light and new hope into the lives of others.
Even the most ambitious people, those who aim for the top in their professional lives, place that glass ceiling on their spiritual ambitions. They fail to see how their God-given gifts and talents can make a miraculous difference to those amongst whom they live. And that spiritual glass ceiling is a symbol of lost hope, doubt and spiritual inertia. Let us pray that we might take Jesus’ words to heart, believe in the truth of his words and step out in faith and joy as we work hard to prove that Jesus is right!
Prayers
To Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
and who now lives in the glory of the Father,
let us lift our voices in praise, saying:
risen Lord, we bless you, alleluia.
Lord Jesus, you are the Amen, the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead:
Risen Lord, we bless you, alleluia.
You are Alpha and Omega,
the one who is, and was, and who is to come:
Risen Lord, we bless you, alleluia.
You search into the thoughts and affections of all people:
Risen Lord, we bless you, alleluia.
You reprove and chasten those whom you love:
Risen Lord, we bless you, alleluia.
You open the eyes of the blind
and set the prisoners free:
Risen Lord, we bless you, alleluia.
In your paschal victory,
you have proclaimed the coming of the kingdom:
Risen Lord, we bless you, alleluia.
God of glory,
by the raising of your Son
you have broken the chains of death and hell:
fill your Church with faith and hope;
for a new day has dawned
and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Rejoicing in God’s new creation,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of the eternal covenant,
make us perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.