Sermon – Linked in Divine Love
Sermon Preached by Reverend Tracey Gracey on Sunday, 1 June, 2025
John 17:20-26
Imagine you’re in a room with your closest friends.
You’ve spent three years with them – teaching, guiding, sharing life. And you know you won’t be with them much longer.
What would you say to them?
Imagine being in a room with someone you admire deeply.
Their words and actions have changed your life.
And you sense it’s the last time you’ll hear from them.
What would you want them to say to you?
This is what has been happening in Chapters 14-17 of the Gospel of John.
Since the washing of the disciples’ feet [in Chapter 13], Jesus has been talking to his friends.
For five chapters – long and wordy chapters – Jesus has been saying goodbye to his friends.
He’s talked about his impending death, about love and hate, judgment, unity, and a new commandment. And now, in Chapter 17, still sitting with his disciples, Jesus prays.
And this is important. Jesus doesn’t end his time with his friends by talking about a final strategy or giving instructions.
He doesn’t hand over a strategic plan.
He hands over his people – to God.
From teaching them to entrusting them.
Jesus places his friend’s future in God’s care.
Just as his own life rests in God, he now wants his friends to know theirs can, too.
John Shea, a Catholic theologian, says Jesus’ final prayer reaches into the future.
Jesus isn’t just praying for the disciples sitting with him.
He’s praying for their “second friends” – those who’ll come to believe through them.
Shea uses the image of a chain:
- First link: Divine Love – God.
- Second link: Jesus – who draws from that Divine Love and shares it with his disciples.
- Third link: the disciples – who pass it on.
And on it goes – link by link, person by person, all the way to us.
“As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us…”
We are now a part of the chain. And we’re invited to be new links – to make that Divine Love real, here and now.
But how?
There was once a good king in a joyful land.
Across the river was a cold, harsh place ruled by a cruel king.
So the good king built a bridge and invited everyone to come.
But many said it was too far, too confusing,
or they didn’t know the way.
So, the king sent three servants.
The first had a beautiful voice and sang songs about the king.
People loved her music, but when the songs ended, they drifted off.
The second wrote powerful words and sent them far and wide.
But she softened the message to please her readers.
The bridge barely got a mention.
The third servant didn’t think she had anything special.
She just talked about the king.
She pointed to the bridge.
Walked with people – slowly, clearly, kindly.
And more people crossed.
When they returned, the king said,
“The third servant had done the best of all.”
For she wasn’t concerned with her talents or flashiness.
She pointed beyond herself – to love, to invitation, to the bridge.
Just like the little servant pointed beyond herself to the king,
Jesus always pointed beyond himself – to Divine Love.
And as links in this chain, we’re called to do the same—not because we’re talented or perfect – but because we’ve experienced that Love through Jesus.
As links in the chain, we now have a sense that we are one,
united in community with Jesus, with God, and we belong.
At our recent clergy conference, our keynote speaker,
Justin Duckworth, the barefoot Bishop from Wellington,
spoke about how people viewed being part of a church community.
Original thoughts were that people had to
Believe → Behave → Belong.
But over the years, that understanding has been reversed.
Belong → Behave → Believe.
People want to feel that they belong first, that they feel welcomed.
From there, people begin to live differently, shaped by the love and acceptance they experience in community. And slowly, belief begins to grow.
The desire for people to belong is at the heart of Jesus’ prayer today.
Jesus’ final words in his prayer are not about tasks or outcomes.
They are his desire for us to be in relationship.
His desire is for people to be linked together by love, by belonging, and by unity.
One way we are seeking unity and creating new links in the chain is through our Hope25 Initiatives.
At our parish council meeting on Thursday night, we spoke about the implementation of our top Hope 25 initiatives, which were based on your preferences, and they are:
- A community garden, which has already created interest from parishioners and the building of relationships with St Andrews School.
- Chatty Café, creating space for conversation and connection with isolated people, where the Walkerville council has already offered us funding, and wants to work with us to bring this new initiative to fruition.
- Faith-forming and outreach activities, including a youth group, Bless Your Pets and Nativity service, and being a Christmas hamper packing site for Anglicare.
Each one of these initiatives can be a link – showing those involved that they belong, they are loved, and they are part of the ongoing chain that allows Jesus’ final prayer to live on in us.