Across our readings this morning and our focus on the Ascension we have a common theme; one of love and unity. Indeed a recurring theme and message through the whole of the biblical story!

But nowhere is it put so poetically and repetitively than in John’s Gospel. He is all about the love and the oneness we can find in and through Jesus.

You will be forgiven in thinking that if we look back over the centuries at the conduct of Christians that this pivotal and life transforming message has got somewhat lost at times and in places.

If you ask the average person on the street what being a Christian means – what a Christian looks like – love and unity are probably not the first things that come out of their mouths.

How have we got it so wrong?

Well I‘m not about to go though a blow by blow account of all the ways we have messed up over the years – how dogma and doctrine have overridden the simple truths. Jesus after all did not come to start a new religion – he came to show us how to do better, how to be better and how to love better. But being fallible human beings we got power crazed, and distorted or used him for our own ends. Perhaps we still do.

Jesus’, God’s, greatest desire for us is that we live life in all it’s fullness. That we live with joy and meaning. That’s what Jesus came for – to show us how.

And it begins and ends with love.

It begins by getting to know and fall in love with the person Jesus. It begins with curiosity.

We show the world that being a Christian is about joy and fulfilment – not rules and judgement. If we go through life radiating joy, love and acceptance of others we will attract attention – the right sort of attention. People may ask us why we didn’t overreact to a snide word being said to us or being cut up by a car on the road or how we get through the tough times of our lives – bereavements, divorce, job losses; What gives us our peace, our ability to hold life lightly.

When we get curious about Jesus, when we spend time with him – really get to know him, we see and learn how he did it. I love these verses from Mathew in the message version of the bible –

^28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

How many of our friends and families need to hear this? A way to do life that isn’t stressed, anxiety driven or overwhelming. My goal is to lean into these words on a daily basis!

How do we get to feel like this?

Jesus spent time with his father, he read the scriptures, he prayed, he relied on others and the Holy Spirit to guide, reassure him and give him peace.

If Jesus needed to do all those things, the Son of God, how much more do we need to?! Perhaps by spending more time like him we can begin to live those words in Matthew.

Love, unity and peace are the overriding qualities that define us as Christians – as follows of Jesus, as followers of the Way. They require practice, and the help of the Holy Spirit. But they are qualities that will be noticed, admired and will make others curious about us.

But we are progress not perfection!

In the words of Jean Vanier, “We all have work to do to welcome the Holy One within us and to love as he loves. Unity does not come from the acceptance of exterior structures or laws, dogmas or ways of worship.

It surges up from a life that flows within us and through us all together.

It is hearts and minds bonded together because they are bonded in communion with Jesus. It is a song, a celebration of thanksgiving. It is a sign of the glory of God.”

All of us here today are somewhere on our own journey of faith. All of us are pilgrims, disciples, trying to figure out the best way to go through life. Let us be curious about our faith, about Jesus, let us seek him afresh today, together, as we learn how he did life. Let us seek his presence in all our daily comings and goings.

So let us pause. And I offer us this prayer by John O’Donohue that we may spend time with Jesus and so grow in love, unity and peace.