Little Christs

John 14:23-29

Father Mark begins his sermon by drawing a parallel between the bittersweet experience of high school graduation and the disciples’ experience during Jesus’ farewell in the Gospel of John. Just as graduates feel a mixture of pride and uncertainty about their future, the disciples face anxiety at the thought of Jesus leaving them. Yet, Jesus comforts them by promising the presence of the Holy Spirit, assuring them that their journey with Him is not ending, but transforming. They are not losing Him—they are growing into a new phase of spiritual maturity where they must now live out what He taught them.

Father Mark then explores what it means to grow in spiritual maturity, using examples like the life and teachings of Richard Rohr. Rohr’s legacy isn’t about himself, but about the message of love, growth, and God that he embodied—just as Jesus was never about Himself, but about the Father. The sermon emphasizes that the responsibility of carrying the Word forward now falls to us. Christ’s love, presence, and Spirit abide in those who love Him and keep His word. We are not called to be passive believers, but to become the very presence of Christ in the world—to embody what we’ve received.

Finally, Father Mark challenges his listeners to recognize how rare spiritual maturity is in today’s society. He critiques the cultural norm of intellectual growth without parallel spiritual growth, warning that immaturity leaves people vulnerable to deceit and chaos. Quoting Paul, he reminds us that our calling is to “grow up into Christ,” becoming stable, loving, and truthful presences in the world. In an age rife with confusion and manipulation, what the world needs more than ever is not just believers—but mature Christians, “little Christs,” living embodiments of Jesus in thought, word, and action.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.