Bible reading
I ask … 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. (John 17. 20 - 24)
Meditation
Geoff Mulgan, when Director of The Young Foundation, wrote that “seeing the connectedness of things is the starting point for understanding a world that otherwise appears baffling” and “the growing connectedness of the world is the most important social and economic fact of our times.” Mulgan saw connectedness manifested “in the growth of physical links like telecom networks; in rising flows of goods, money, ideas and people; in the interconnectedness of culture and the environment; and in new forms of social organisation.”
While he has been in America, Sadiq Khan has been arguing that “there is a huge amount political leaders can do to ensure people of different ethnicities, faiths, cultures, age groups, sexualities and incomes don’t just tolerate each other, but live truly interconnected lives as neighbours, citizens and friends.” He has been talking about building bridges rather than walls because “the world has been busy building separation barriers at a rate perhaps unequalled in history: at least 6,000 miles of wire, concrete, steel, sand, stone, mesh; anything to keep peoples out – or in.” Jon Henley has written that: “What is odd is that this building is happening at a time when less-physical walls appear to be crumbling. This is the age of the global economy, multinationals, vanishing trade barriers; of "the free movement of goods, capital, services and people", unprecedented mobility and instantaneous communication.”
We can see connectedness manifested in the relations within the Godhead as they are revealed to us through this prayer of Jesus which is recorded in John 17 - “you are in me and I am in you.” We are then drawn into this interconnectivity found at the heart of the Godhead - “may they also be in us” – in order that we participate in an exchange of love which precedes the creation of the world. When Jesus prayed that his followers might all be one, he prayed this on the basis that his followers might be in God as he is in the Father and the Father is in him. He was praying that we, who follow in his footsteps, would experience the same oneness with God and each other that he enjoys with God, his Father. In essence, his prayer is that we will experience unity, because unity is what is at the very heart of God.
John’s Gospel shows us two different patterns of society, each with a different centre or ruling power. In the first, “the ruling principle is the dictator ME, my ego-centric ego, and the pattern of society is people competing with, manipulating and trying to control each other.” In the second, “the ruling principle is the Spirit of Love, and the pattern of society is one of compassion – people giving to each other what they really are, and accepting what others are, recognising their differences, and sharing their vulnerability.”
Jesus’ focus on unity on unity among his followers because of the unity that exists within the Trinity suggests that, as his followers, we should favour collaboration, coalition, alliances and unions over independence. The unity found in the Godhead is the source of the connectedness of things found within the world and is also the starting point for understanding a world that otherwise appears baffling.
Prayer
Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit, may we know love as you know love, may we exchange love as you exchange love, may we live love as you live love, may we know unity as you know unity.
May we share connectedness as you share connectedness, you in us and ourselves in you.
God of connectedness, teach us that churches, communities and businesses thrive when the gifts of all their members are released and they build one another’s assets. Thus is deficit turned to plenitude, threat turned to companionship, and fear turned to joy. This is the life of the kingdom, may it be our experience too.
May we share connectedness as you share connectedness, you in us and ourselves in you.
God of love, may your words inform our speech as we discuss how to build bridges rather than walls. May your love influence our behaviour towards those with whom we work and enable us to live truly interconnected lives as neighbours, citizens and friends. May your actions impact our activities inspiring new initiatives characterized by service of others and creative understandings of the common good.
May we share connectedness as you share connectedness, you in us and ourselves in you.
Blessing
Releasing the gifts of all, building one another’s assets, deficit turned to plenitude, threat turned to companionship, fear turned to joy. May all those blessings of almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
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The Voices of Harlem - Giving Love 1973.
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