The Sixth Sunday of Easter, rcl yr a,
May 10, 2026
ACTS 17:22-31; JOHN 14:15-21
I will not leave you orphaned. John 14:18
The gift of incarnation is the unique and special proclamation of Christianity. John’s testimony at the beginning of his gospel, “the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth” stands at the heart of Christian faith. In Jesus the Christ, “the God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth” became fully human and revealed to people the fullness of our life in the Spirit.
In today’s Gospel, as Jesus foresees the time after his death and resurrection, he expands on how the gift of incarnation will find its home among those who continue to follow him and keep his commandments. He promises the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, named as both “the Advocate” and “the Spirit of truth” the Spirit itself a gift for the community that will continue his ministry and mission.
Jesus recognizes that most people, those he describes as “the world,” will struggle with this teaching, but his message is directed to his disciples, to those who have received his teaching and are growing in understanding. Of the Spirit, Jesus says to them, “You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” Jesus can see their “spirituality” (if you will) in how their faith in him and his teaching have taken root and grown during their time together.
There is an already-but-not-yet quality to today’s Gospel, partly because even though this is part of Jesus’ farewell, he is, at least for the moment, still with them. And so he tells them, “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” And to put a point on it he then says, “In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.”
What he is describing here is the life of faith with which you and I have become well acquainted; but it must have been quite puzzling for his first disciples whose only experience of Jesus was Jesus as teacher, companion and friend, Jesus in flesh and bone. And so he challenges them with this idea of a greater sharing of the gift of incarnation, especially when he says to them, “On that [future] day, you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”
It took the event of Pentecost and a little time, experience, and reflection after Pentecost for his first disciples to understand the full implications of this teaching and of all that had happened and continued to happen for them. But in the fullness of time (which really wasn’t very long), the followers of Jesus were able to see the fulfillment of his promise by celebrating his real presence with them when they gathered for prayer, when they talked with people hungry for the good news Jesus had taught and embodied for them, when they gathered for worship, and when they broke bread together. Perhaps they reflected on another teaching of Jesus which we read in Matthew’s gospel, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” However they understood his presence, his accompaniment, we know that they did not feel orphaned. Their actions indicate that they were energized, inspired, and deeply called to continue what they had begun with Jesus.
Last Sunday was, among other things, our patronal festival, the Feast of St. John the Evangelist. We didn’t change our Sunday readings to mark the occasion, but interestingly, today’s readings for Easter 6 and an experience of a week ago Friday prompted me to go down memory lane a bit as regards our life together as Jesus’ disciples, past and present.
Continuing a custom Preston began a few years ago, our director of music, Angus Sinclair and I responded both this year and last to what has now become an annual request to meet with a history class of students from Rockway Mennonite Collegiate. As you can appreciate, the yearly visit of these curious and inquiring Grade 10 students and their teacher has become the occasion for me to acquaint and reacquaint myself with St. John’s history. For his part, Angus introduces the students to both the spectacle and the sounds of a church with two pipe organs.
For me, reviewing our history was fun. I learned that St. John’s began first as a mission from Trinity, Galt in 1856, then became a mission of the Diocese of Huron in 1857, and was finally recognized as a parish of the Diocese of Huron in 1859. Our first church building dates from 1861 built on the same piece of land on which this present building stands.
The congregation outgrew the 1861 church, and so it was taken down, and our present building was completed in 1894 with a seating capacity of approximately 2½ times that of the original church. In 1901, the rectory was built onto the church; some of the rectory remains now as our church office. In 1927, a parish hall was dedicated, although it is not the parish hall we’ll adjourn to after worship for coffee and conversation. That parish hall dates from 1954.
You may not have looked at them lately, but there are three beautiful stained glass windows in the east clerestory commemorating the three buildings. Closest to the crossing is the 1861 building, the middle window pictures the 1894 building, and third window shows the 1894 building with both the complete 1901 rectory and the 1927 parish hall added. As I said, the windows are beautiful, but so are all three of the buildings.
And so, on this octave of our patronal festival, we can give thanks for this 132 year old building in which we sit today, and we can marvel that our parish is actually 167 years old, 10 years older than Confederation.
But what is truly remarkable in our history, beyond the buildings and their longevity, is the community itself. Without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit promised in today’s Gospel, without the real presence of Christ in our midst also promised in today’s Gospel, none of this would have occurred. Most significantly, this community would not exist!
There is nothing trivial about the gift of incarnation. In our gathering for worship, in receiving the proclamation of the Word of God, in celebrating the Holy Sacraments, and in breaking bread together, we are formed by the Spirit of the Risen Christ as his church, his witnesses, his disciples, in uninterrupted continuity with those who first heard his promise that they would not be orphaned, that the Father would send an Advocate to support and encourage the community of the faithful.
Today, looking back, whether it be for our 167 years as a parish or even through the much longer history that dates from Jesus’ farewell to his first disciples, we celebrate the life of this community and all that it means for us. Today we celebrate Jesus’ real presence, the Christ who is our life by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit.
We are greatly blessed. Thanks be to God!
Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.
As our parish musician, he provides both support and leadership so that a variety of parish programs can find musical expression and attract participation. When our handbell choir is in season, he is one of our ringers. At parish dinners, he provides popular piano music for the guests to dine by. For both worship services and concerts, he will rehearse and accompany vocal and instrumental soloists from our congregation on piano, organ, or even accordion.
Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.