Scripture/Sermon of the Day.  June 5, 2022

John 14:8-17, (25-27)8

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 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’? 10 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. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. 12 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. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 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.
25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 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. 27 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.

Reflection:
I.      On Friday I was visiting my doctor — again.  These visits are beginning to feel — routine.  I told my P.A. (because if you want to see the doctor, you might have to wait two weeks!):  “It seems as I get older I see you more often.”  She said, “That’s ok — I don’t mind.” (I’m glad she doesn’t mind!  What if she said, “Yes, I know — It’s awful for both of us!”)

II.     One of the things I like about these visits now is something that used to bother me — the wait.  Now I sit in the chair and close my eyes and do my centering prayer.  The longer the wait, the more still and in-touch I become with the kingdom of heaven, that quiet place of refuge within us all the time which, unfortunately, we are often not in touch with. 

III.    But waiting for someone now is a time to connect with Jesus and remember the presence of God that walks with us  everywhere, all the time.  A doctor’s office can become the kingdom of heaven. When the visit was over, I went to Rite Aid to get my prescription, and again, I was glad to hear that I’d need to wait a while because they were especially busy.  There were three waiting chairs right there — none of them being used.  So I sat there next to the Depends and the Foster Grant sunglasses, and for the third time that morning, visited the kingdom of heaven and spent another twenty minutes in the company of God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

IV.     Because how can we know Jesus if we don’t spend time with him?  How can the Holy Spirit breathe in us if we don’t give her room?  We have to cultivate our relationship with the sacred like we do our gardens.  It takes time.The disciple Phillip asked Jesus:  “Show us the Father and we will be satisfied.”  Jesus said, “Phillip — I’m here.  I’m standing right in front of you.  We’ve been traveling down this road for a long time — can’t you see yet?  Whatever you see me saying and doing, that’s the same as seeing God.  My words are God’s — my Father’s — and my actions are God’s, all the love, the healing, the casting out of evil spirits.  That’s God — that’s me.  Open your eyes Phillip!!!!  Open your mind and heart.And look — I send you the Holy Spirit.  So don’t rely on yourself so much.  Let go.  Spend more time with me.  The spirit will guide you and you will do these miracles too.  You will be a healer.  You will cast out evil spirits.  You will give people good news.”

V.      Wherever we are, right now, is the best time and place to practice the presence of God and flow with the guidance of the Spirit.