Moving on to Glory

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary are set in the context of parting teaching to sum up in the Book of Acts the work of Paul with the Ephesians and in the Gospel of John, the ministry of Jesus in the Final Discourse before His crucifixion. Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles who is led by the Spirit to proclaim boldly the Good News of repentance and life to both Jews and Gentiles. He being led now by the same Spirit to imprisonment and persecution in the cities he visits as he makes his way to Jerusalem. He prays to finish the course and is convinced that he has declared to his audiences the whole purpose of God. This purpose in Paul's witness and certainly in Jesus mission includes witness to love which transcends human need for safety and security. The intimate relationship offered to those who the Father has given to Jesus from the world is the protection of that Love through all persecution including death so that they may be one as Jesus and the Father are one.