CAMINANDO WITH JESUS: Harmony, Beauty and Love

The Seventh Sunday of Easter | June 2, 2019

By The Rev. Reggie Payne-Wiens

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Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also 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.

"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

- John 17:20-26

The first song I ever learned to play on guitar was They’ll Know We are Christians. It was three chords: A minor, E minor and C major. I will never forget the first time I played all the chords correctly, without any mistakes, in rhythm with others while singing. It was amazing! I couldn’t stop smiling. Learning to play that song reinforced something that I had begun to learn a long time ago at a very young age. Glorious and divine beauty is created out of harmony. When notes come together in a synchronous and complimentary dance, they produce a sound meant to be absorbed into our souls and remind us that God is with us and loves us deeply.
 
In today’s Gospel, we hear an account of Jesus praying to God for the disciples and all future believers, which includes us and believers yet to come. Our language is always inadequate when describing who God is and what God is doing. Today’s gospel is no less the case. To simply say Jesus was praying to God is to miss out on the wonderful gift Jesus shared with his disciples and us through his action. Jesus allows us to have a glimpse of the intimate relationship that exists among the Trinity. Jesus allows us to witness the holy dance of the Trinity. Jesus allows us to witness the intimate and harmonious love of the Trinity, so that we can model it and bring others, so they may believe. Jesus prays that we identify, experience and model the love and harmony that exist in the relationship of the Trinity, knowing that when we do, others will know who we are and to whom we belong, and choose to join us.
 
When harmony is created, there is divine beauty. Where there is beauty, there is love. We must continue to work hard to love one another. It turns out the full title of the first song I learned how to play on the guitar is They’ll Know We are Christians by Our Love. This also turns out to be the way Jesus invites us to respond to his prayer. Amen.

The Rev. Reggie Payne-Wiens is vicar of Chapel of Christ the King in Charlotte, North Carolina.