Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year 4, NL)

How do you say goodbye? It depends, I suppose, on the relationship—what it has grown to and what it will become. For Jesus, preparing to leave the close society of his disciples seems to have been a long process. Almost from the beginning he gently, or sometimes in exasperation, explained that the course his life was following would lead to profound changes in their lives. So he began saying goodbye early.

Whereas my most “prophetic” sermons are in the imperative mood, Jesus preaches in the indicative.

Keeping score and getting even—that’s what enemies do.