Read Today's Scripture
Christ the North Star
Today's John reading comes from Jesus' “High Priestly Prayer”. Jesus, moments before his crucifxion, prays in the Garden for the lives of his disciples, for after his resurrection and ascension—”I am no more in the world, and I am coming to thee; that they may be one, even as we are one” (Jn 17:11). Jesus’ desire is for us to be one as he and the Father is one. Left to our own devices, that is an insurmountable task. Because the oneness of the Father and the Son is a full unity of their love for each other, their will, and thoughts. So how can this be? Imagine a mighty armada, stuck on a stormy ocean, tossed about by waves and winds of every kind, trying desperately to make it to a far shore. Through the rain and the clouds, they can barely see their mastheads. But every so often, they catch a glimpse of the North Star. And through the flashes of lightning and thunder, they see the shadows of their fellow ships straining through the storm. The only way that armada will make it through the storm in one piece to the far offshore, is if they all catch a glimpse of the North Star and aim in the same direction. That’s oneness of vision and will. In many ways, those are Paul’s farewell words to the fledgling Church and to us today. He gives us a north star to aim for—to care for God’s church obtained with the blood of his own Son, to be alert to fierce wolves sometimes from even within our midsts (like Judas), to give because it is more blessed than to receive. Because this is what Christ did! He gave of himself fully, even in the presence of fierce wolves from within his circle of friends who betrayed him, like Judas. Thus, when he is our North Star, Christians can strain towards the oneness in Christ’s body that Christ prays for. So look up to our North Star! And strive for his peace in his body!
Collect
O Lord, whose Son, after he had ascended into heaven, did send down upon the Apostles the Holy Spirit, as he had promised, that they might comprehend the mysteries of the kingdom: Distribute among us also, we pray thee, the gifts of that selfsame Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.