Lectionary Devotions by Father Gethin

Our lessons today carry on directly from last Sunday, with the theme of our growth into our Christian life and calling: we hear more from St. John’s first epistle about the way of charity, and Jesus illustrates more of the worldly impediments to that way in the parable of the dinner guests…

Our Collect and Lessons today set out the foundation of what will be our whole concern and effort throughout this Trinity season: our faithful commitment to, and our spiritual progress in, the merciful love of God…

This week we set out on the long green passage through the Trinity season, which will lead us finally back to Advent and the beginning of a new Church year…

The Octave day of Pentecost, which we call Trinity Sunday, celebrates the ultimate fulfillment of God’s purpose in our Redemption, summed up for us today in John’s heavenly vision: ‘A door was opened in heaven’, he tells us, and by way of that door he sees God’s identity and life.

Together with Christmas and Easter, Pentecost recalls the foundational events of our faith: the Incarnation of the divine Word at Christmas, Christ’s suffering and triumph over death in the Passion and Resurrection, and finally, the sending of the Holy Spirit, which we celebrate today, also called Whitsunday.

The Holy Spirit does not descend to lead us home: He arrives to be our home. “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”…

In a wonderful way, Eastertide is all about the discovery and development of a new and better religious language: “These things have I spoken unto you in parables: the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in parables, but I shall show you plainly of the Father.”

In the light of the Resurrection we are to find ourselves free from the world’s sinful bondage, and free, therefore, to offer our hearts to God with faith and thanksgiving.

As we pass into the last days of Eastertide, our focus begins to shift, as Jesus’ teaching also shifts, from the meaning of His Resurrected person, to the promise His Resurrection proclaims…

The final work of Our Lord’s earthly ministry is to prepare His followers for the strange, and in some ways painful event of His earthly departure at the Ascension. ‘Because I have said these things, sorrow hath filled your heart’…