The Spirit of Oneness

WORD 2day: Tuesday after Ascension

May 23, 2023: Acts 20: 17-27; John 17: 1-11

We see both Paul and Jesus in a parting mood; Paul is sensing an imminent trouble and Jesus is sure of a fast approaching end. But both have a sense of fulfilment, having completed the task given to them. Apart from that, both have a note of passing on the mission to those around them - Paul to the presbyters and Jesus to the apostles. There is one thing in both cases that ensures the continuity: the One Spirit.

The One Spirit because it was the same Spirit that was in Jesus, which Jesus gave to his apostles, that was given to Paul and then Paul to the elders...the Spirit of courage and strength, the Spirit of truth and love; as Paul would explain in 2 Tim 1:7, the Spirit of power, of love and of self discipline. Power, which makes us fearless; love which makes feel for the others; and self discipline which enables us to do the will of the One who calls us, come what may!

The One Spirit also because it was the Spirit of Oneness, which had to unite the disciples of Jesus althought they were persons of varied temperament and background, which had to unite the people around Paul who were so divided and had so little in common that could bring them together. However, the Spirit brought them together, built them into one and made them One people... One people of the Spirit of Oneness.