Sunday’s Reflection: John 14:15-21

“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” This promise is the center of this section of the Farewell Discourse. In last week’s passage from John, Jesus told the disciples that he was going to the Father. This week, he reassures them that they will not be left alone. The Father will send “another Advocate” who will always be with them. Jesus is the first Advocate, the one who is the Truth, and the Advocate whom the Father will send will be the Spirit of Truth, the spirit of Jesus himself.

Twice in this passage, Jesus tells us that those who love him, who follow him, will keep his commandments, which involve love for others and will result in being one with him and the Father. This union with Jesus and the Father is the Spirit who is with us always. The world, that is, the powers that do not receive Jesus, cannot know either him or the Father and do not know the Spirit. Those who love will be loved and receive the revelation of Jesus’ Spirit.

• What are the signs you see of the Advocate, the Spirit, moving in the life of the world today?
• What does it mean to you to keep Jesus’ commandments?

(Sermons That Works, by Sr. Kate Maxwell)

Prayer: Faithful God, make our hearts bold with love for one another. Pour out your Spirit upon all people, so that we may live your justice and sing in praise the new song of your marvelous victory. Amen.

(Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002), 122 alt.)

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

I would like to start by saying thank you to all of you for your continued support to our St. Michael’s Church. In this unprecedented time, our church family has been connecting virtually every Sunday to pray and worship together as a faith community. I know that all of you miss each other, and we really want to come back and worship in-person in our sanctuary. Just be a little bit more patient, and one day we will see each other again.

Plans are now underway to start the process of re-opening our churches to in-person events. We are cautiously and carefully looking into some models that would assist the parish leadership of St. Michaels to make some plans. We would like to assure everyone that this will be according to public health safety protocols, and the Archbishop’s directive in using again our church facilities. If you have any thoughts, feelings, and suggestions on how we should proceed with this plan, please let me know or the church wardens about this matter for discussion during our meeting.

Reading list: The gifts of the small church in a pandemic is an article written by Allen T. Stanton. He wrote, “In times of sickness and anxiety, the deep relationships in a small-membership church can be a powerfully sustaining force.”

This gift that we have is a way on how we can continue to cultivate our relationship as a church family. We are sustained by this virtue at St. Michael’s. We have this very powerful gift that we can share to one another in times of isolation. The goal is always to support our people. Members of the small church depend on one another — for connection, for friendship, for help.

Please continue to pray and uphold one another in the name of the risen Christ. ¹⁵ “If you love me, you will keep my commandment.” John 14

The Venerable Louie Engnan,

Rector