Austin Farrer in a sermon he preached in Keble College , Oxford, in the 60’s, said: “By sitting late over Greek print in a badly lighted library I finished my eyes and my exams together. I was forbidden to read for 3 months.Not read for 3 months – what was I to do?
“Look” said my father, “The fence round the garden is falling to pieces: we’ll replace it. We’ll do it in oak, and we won’t buy the uprights ready slotted, we’ll cut them out with hand tools.”
So we made that solid oak paling right round our garden, my father and I.
The weeks flowed by, the long sun-shiny days of satisfying manual labour.
I never had a happier summer than that summer I was supposed to be going blind. Above all there was the pleasure of working with my father, who treated me as an equal. All the time there was a feeling of his kindness, who had undertaken such a labour to keep me cheerful; but there was nothing indebting in it. He enjoyed the work as much as I did, my zest could not equal his. His idea of being happy was getting mixed up in his children’s affairs.”
Now hear the words of Jesus.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15: 9-11
Jesus said when you pray, pray in this manner: “Our Father …” (Well, you go on and finish it, you know it by heart. Say it slowly and mean every word.) Now read the prayer of Jesus to his Father, in John Chapter 17.