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(Acts 7:55-60;\xa0\xa0 Ps.97:1-2,6-7,9;\xa0\xa0 Rv.22:12-14,16-17,20;\xa0\xa0 Jn.17:20-26) \u201cI wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me.\u201d\xa0 The Father gave Jesus His glory.\xa0 It is Jesus\u2019 own glory He owns, for He had it \u201cbefore the foundation of the world,\u201d but now the Father has given it to Him anew in His incarnation as the Son of Man; and in His death and resurrection He shall not only confirm it in Himself, but serve thus to make it our own. What glory is ours in this Son of God who has come among us to draw us into the Father\u2019s immortal, eternal love!\xa0 It is the same glory the Father and Son know and share in the Spirit who makes them one.\xa0 We are called to be so one with this Holy Trinity.\xa0 Our jaws should drop at such a prospect, our hearts reach up, and praise of the Most High God resound upon our tongues; for what does Jesus pray for us but that we be one in glory with the Righteous One? And this glory is \u201ccoming soon.\u201d\xa0 Jesus promises John that soon He shall return, and then absolute glory will be our own, if we have washed clean our robes from sin, if we have prepared our souls to eat from \u201cthe tree of life and enter the city through its gates,\u201d coming thus to where the glory of God dwells in eternity.\xa0 But if we are not clean, if we attempt to enter the city by other means than the gate before us, the gate who is Jesus and His teachings \u2013 climbing over the wall we shall but fall, and find the taste of the fruit of the tree terribly bitter. The people and their leaders could not well partake of the blessed word Stephen brought to their ears.\xa0 Of the glory of God and their own falling short they would not hear\u2026 and so could but stone its bearer to death.\xa0 But Stephen finds himself present there within the City gates, even while upon his knees and crying out; for his eyes are open to see God\u2019s glorious One, and these stones he returns to their throwers with but a prayer for peace. Open your ears, my brothers and sisters.\xa0 Open your hearts to His call.\xa0 \u201cThe Spirit and the bride say, \u2018Come,\u2019\u201d and you must echo their glorious song to the Alpha and the Omega.\xa0 To us soon Jesus the Christ is coming; \u201call peoples [will] see His glory.\u201d\xa0 Invite Him in and be one with Him, even as the stones are falling.\xa0 \u201cAmen!\xa0 Come, Lord Jesus!\u201d\xa0 Amen and Alleluia! Written, read & chanted, and produced\xa0by James Kurt. Music: "There Is No End to Life" (2nd half)\xa0from Thoroughfare, seventh album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let us hear the Word of your Son\xa0 and come to join Him in glory with you on high.\xa0 YHWH, you are the Most High over earth and Heaven, and you call us to yourself through your only Son.\xa0 He would have us be one with you in the kingdom, and so He joins Himself to us that we might be joined to Him and so to you.\xa0 To your glory let us come, O LORD.\xa0 Soon Jesus shall return to us; let us be prepared.\xa0 Let us see Him at your right hand as has Stephen, and welcome Him so freely into our lives, ready even to die.\xa0 For what is our death in this world but a falling asleep?\xa0 What matter the stones raining upon our heads if we have vision of you in our eyes and in our minds?\xa0 May we wash our robes clean and so freely call upon your Son to come.\xa0 With you and with your Son let us be one; let us see your glory.\xa0 O may we stand in your presence forever, LORD!\xa0 Please receive our spirit.