Christ Lutheran Church
Cleveland, Ohio
May 10, 2026
by: Rev. Dean Kavouras

Easter 6
Glory Be

In that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you. John 14:20 (DKV)

There is more to the ocean than meets the eye. The surface with its many colors and changing moods is breath-taking. But we must not forget that beneath it, is a whole universe, surely as mysterious and full of wonder as outer space, so that the astronomer has nothing over the oceanographer.

The same is true about Scripture as a whole, and the gospel of St. John in particular. As such it should come as no surprise to when the Lord says, “the world cannot receive the Spirit for it neither perceives nor knows him.” How could it possibly do when we who have the mind of Christ are barely able wrap our minds around what Jesus says here.

And so let us “grope” our way together, as Saint Paul says to the Athenians; because like the ocean, there is something infinitely larger here than that which meets the eye.

If we were to reduce today’s gospel to theme it might be the doxology we offer to our God as a close to many of our prayers.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now and shall be forever. Amen.

In all of our post Easter gospels we are hearing the singular and sacred record of the greatest events in the history of the universe – namely the BEGINNING, the MIDDLE AND THE NEVER-ENDING END of all things.

First is “AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING.”

As we engage in holy prayer to our God, reconciled as we are to him by Christ crucified, It is as if sin never happened. As if our first parents never rebelled, never brought the “temple of Dagan” down upon the heads of their children. It is as if we still “walk with him and talk with him” in the paradise of pleasure. It is as if we still had dominion over the earth and that it did not produce thorns and thistles, or demand the sweat of our brow to live. But that it gave what we want, when we want it.

That it always gave favorable weather, always sprouted its fruit in season which we would eat off the vine and from which we would enjoy perfect health.

Then we would still have the capacity to use 100% of our brains vs. the alleged 10% that we now use. And that, without machinery or technology we would the power to rightly manage not only the earth, but the new worlds that God would create: since his love is boundless. And we would never have had to experience death or its many tentacles. But would have lived on and on in “everlasting righteousness innocence and blessedness.”

Of course we are well aware that the original creation went awry, leaving us in our current condition. Which condition grows worse by the day. Don’t be fooled by politicians’ promises and the rosy futures they promise if only you will submit to them. Watch and pray instead.

And we are equally aware that when we sinned God did “not cast us off forever, but continually visited us by his Holy Prophets” and in the fullness of time (Gal. 4:4) sent his Only Son into the world “to bear our sin, and to be our Savior.”

Indeed the Gospel of Jesus Christ comprises the IS NOW of our doxology; a New Creation brought about by his passion, death and resurrection, by which stiff-necked sinners are redeemed, restored and forgiven. Wherein we are born anew by the “washing of regeneration” in his blood; The blood shed on the cross, sprinkled upon us in baptism, and given us to drink in the Holy Grail.

And so we can rightly pray “as it was in the beginning, IS NOW,” because in Christ, “all IS calm and all IS bright.”

What is included in the “IS NOW” condition?

First this Divine Service which is heaven on earth. In which we are intermingled with the Father Son and Holy Spirit as Jesus says.

Secondly it means to live keep the Lord’s commandments, which surpass the Decalogue.

And we must not forget that in the “IS NOW” we are called upon to bear the sufferings of life with Christ-like patience and steadfast faith in God. We learn this from St. Peter who writes, “For it is better, if God should will it, to suffer for doing good, than for doing what is wrong.”

We know from Scripture and experience that there are times when does will us to suffer by tribulation that comes from various sources: persecution, disease, loss, or in the case of Blessed Paul by a “messenger of Satan” that he described as a “thorn in his side,” sent by God to torment him. Or in Job’s case suffering inflicted from Satan himself.

But whatever the source God’s Fatherly discipline is always carried out for our good, and for his glory; so that one day we may “reign with Christ in endless day,” as we sing in our hymn. (Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing); which is not for the untested, or the faint of heart.

But while we agonize let us always remember that God is in control whatever might befall us. Too, that adversity has a shelf life. And the Holy Spirit will comfort you, come to your side, come to your aid, and at the appointed time provide the glorious, wondrous way of escape. (1 Cor. 10:13)

Please know too that the “IS NOW” that Jesus established by the cross is not a case of restoring us to “Garden of Eden 2.0.” But to something more glorious that “WILL BE FOREVER.” Saint Paul was given a glimpse of it and describes it like this, “I was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not permissible for a man to utter.”

This being the case it is best that we do not try to explain the inexplicable; except possibly to commend Revelation chapters 21 and 22 to our meditation, which map out the fullness of what the Lord means when he says, “In that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you.” But for now we pray:

“Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be. Amen.”