Gospel reading: John 16.12-15
[Jesus said] ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.’
Reflections
In verse 15, Jesus says “All that the Father has is mine.” In the next chapter of John’s Gospel, as he continues speaking, he says “those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.” (17.6) and “All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.” (17.10).
Putting these together leads me to the understanding that Jesus counts me among “what is mine” (v14), having been among those from the world given to him by the Father.
That is, the true me belongs to Jesus, and I am known fully by Father, Son and Holy Spirit since before all time. My task in this life is to rediscover and grow into the true me, who I am created by God to be, under all the layers of false self.
I am helped in this, if I listen, because the Spirit will declare me to myself (v14) – maybe not all at once, because I won’t necessarily be able to bear it (v12), but gently and persistently and always truthfully. It might be through Scripture, or the words of friends, or happenings in daily life, or in my deep mind during prayer. But I must always be listening for that still small voice.
And in so doing, the Spirit will glorify Jesus (v14). Because eventually, a me that is fully me, that is fully alive, will be able to do nothing but behold God face to face and give glory to God.
-oOo-
Since April 2020, I have been jointly hosting a shared Lectio Divina group on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. These are my reflections only, during the prayer session and as I wrote them up. Please see my separate commentary and leaflet for more information about shared Lectio.
