Jesus said to the disciples, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, she will guide you into all truth." (John 16:12-13, The Inclusive Bible).
What kinds of things does Jesus have in mind when he refers to truths that his followers "cannot yet bear" to know, but will be taught in the future by the Holy Spirit? From the Book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament, we can see his early disciples gradually being impelled by the Spirit to accept the radical inclusiveness of God's love a love that insists on the equal value before God of foreigners, Gentiles, eunuchs, and slaves. From our own vantage point in history, we can see the Spirit's continuing influence in the role Christians have played in the long campaigns to abolish slavery, protect the human rights of women and children, and combat racism and homophobia.
But clearly the words of Jesus apply to you and me too. Do we really accept the radical inclusiveness of God's love, or do we still resist believing that there are no outcasts or second-class citizens in God's kingdom? In our heart of hearts, do we respect the equal human dignity and value of people with severe disabilities? addicts? undocumented immigrants? people with prison records? others who are shunned or marginalized in our society? Is the Spirit trying to guide us in this direction?
Reflections on the Gospels from a Justice Perspective written for St. Andrew's Episcopal Church by members of the congregation
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