What I love most about today's Gospel reading from John is its directness. I often find scripture mired in hidden meanings, innuendo and references which often seem contradictory to modern-day interpretation or translation. Sometimes it's difficult to know what God really wants from us. John is mercifully clear, however, when delivering this message from Christ: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever."

Jesus says "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" and then he says twice "I am in the Father and the Father is in me." These two utterances of Jesus basically sum up much of John's Gospel: which revolves around the unity of God and Jesus. We are talking about the decisive revelation of God in the act of incarnation: the in-fleshing of God in human form. We are asked to believe Jesus when he says these things, yet even Thomas and Philip do not understand or believe: Thomas unsure of how to find Jesus when he goes away; and Philip wanting to be shown God the Father. These two, Thomas and Philip, have been with Jesus for three years and they still don't understand.

Here, I have seen the love God intends for each of us. I have seen the special way children are cared for by each member. I have experienced the generous and sincere help offered and given to people during some of life's most painful experiences. Whether it is support for fellows suffering through depression, other illness, death, or any other crisis, St. Thomas has been there to give, to help, and to love. Parishioners are also here to share the happy moments. The joining of two lives in love, the coming of a child, birthdays, and giving thanks to our many wonderful fellows all these bring us closer to that which God desires.

The world of Scripture is the story of God's ongoing relationship with humanity, and it provides a portrait of the ways people have come into relationship with that God, who is ever calling them to life.  That's why the best Episcopal preaching tries to offer an invitation to God's people that encourages us to seek and enter into a fuller relationship with God, through the biblical story.  For the beginners among us, I invite you to tip-toe into the edges of the story...and as you begin to find your way around the world of biblical story to work yourself up to the boldness of diving headfirst into the lives of our biblical ancestors, seeing and hearing what it is they have to teach us. And one of the things we will find in the heart of the story is this child of God, Jesus.