48 - Bound by Love

What this episode covers

Almost invariably the uppermost things that come into the mind of someone coming to the end of his/her life are what are considered the most important. And so Jesus who “... knew that the time had come for him to leave the world and go to the Father... [and]... having loved his own who were in the world.., showed them the full extent of his love.” After washing the feet of His disciples and offering the 'sop' to Judas, Jesus prayed what is known as His high priestly prayer. In part, He said, “I pray... for those who believe me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you... so that the world may believe that you have sent me.... May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me...“ It was completely clear to Jesus that the success of His message to the world depended entirely on how seriously His followers took the number one reality of God: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God... is one.” It is a sad commentary that for the most part, strategies among believers, to keep unity and harmony have more frequently failed than succeeded. The key, of course to all of this is love which we are totally unable to manufacture in our relationships with each other. It comes when we make ourselves available as open vessels to receive the love that our Lord pours into us through His Spirit, for the fruit of the Spirit is love! Scripture references; John 13:1-5, John 17:20-26, Deuteronomy 6:1, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 4:3, Matthew 10:34-39, Jude 3-4, Romans 16:17-19, Titus 3:9-11, John 16:7-11, I John 1:1-10, Ephesians 4:3-6, Colossians 3:12-15, Ephesians 4:3, Ephesians 4:1-2, John 11:52, Romans 5:5, Song of Solomon 8:6-7 and Philippians 1:27.

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