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The opening section of this Gospel brings to mind 1 Corinthians 13:11, where Paul uses the metaphor of childhood to describe spiritual immaturity: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things.” Spiritual immaturity refers to a stage in which a believer has not yet developed a mature understanding or practice of faith. It is characterized by a lack of discernment between sound doctrine and false teachings, as well as difficulty applying biblical truths in daily life. Spiritually immature believers may exhibit behaviors such as jealousy, strife, selfishness, and a worldly mindset, rather than reflecting Christlike character.

Spiritual immaturity is a natural stage in the Christian journey—no one is born spiritually mature—but Scripture urges believers not to remain in this state. It is important to note that spiritual immaturity is not limited to children; many adults also struggle with it.

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To help us understand the Holy Spirit, the reading begins by emphasizing God’s love for us—a recurring and familiar theme in John’s Gospel.

Love inherently involves vulnerability. The more deeply we love, the more at risk we are to being hurt. This vulnerability makes trust essential in any relationship. Trust can be given or earned, and violations of trust can sometimes be irreparable. Conversely, trust built through consistent caring and faithfulness strengthens relationships, though some may find it harder to build trust due to past wounds.

The Gospel speaks of a profound intimacy between God and those who love Him. Jesus often seeks out those who do not yet know Him, but today’s focus is on His longing to be with His people.

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Jesus makes some incredible claims, and provides signs of God’s presence amongst his followers, driving out demons, speaking new languages, picking up serpents, drinking poison and miraculous healings, only to name a few. This passage reminds me of the dramatic style of teaching Jesus used to introject passion into his teachings. Remember the scripture passage that speaks of "the dead burying the dead" found in Luke 9:60. Do you remember the scripture passage that speaks of cutting off your hand if it causes you to sin that is found in Matthew 5:29-30 and Mark 9:43-48? Quite dramatic!

What did Jesus mean?