Sermon Introduction –
Before Jesus shared the seder with the Disciples in the upper room, he prayed to his Father. John lets us listen in and allows us to see just how much God loves us. God gave Jesus a To-Do List, if you will, that demonstrate the power and depth of this love.
As we come to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, we find ourselves in that quiet stretch between Ascension and Pentecost—a gentle, waiting place where promise has been spoken but fulfillment has not yet arrived; a place where God’s people wait, pray, and lean into hope. The scriptures this week echo with trust: a community holding fast together, a reminder that God is our steady refuge, and a call to stand firm in grace even when the path feels uncertain.
As we live into this week, may we rest in that same assurance—that we are seen, held, and drawn into the life of God, even in the in‑between places of our own lives. May this be a moment to breathe, to listen, and to wait with hope.
Introduction to the readings
In these days between Ascension and Pentecost, we gather with the disciples in the upper room, waiting for the Spirit to transform the church around the world. In today’s gospel Jesus prays for his followers and for their mission in his name. Amid religious, social, and economic divisions, we seek the unity that Jesus had with his Father. Made one in baptism, we go forth to live our faith in the world, eager for the unity that God intends for the whole human family.
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