The Festival of (Re)dedication (Hanukkah) took place in Jerusalem. It was winter and Jesus was walking in the Temple precinct, under Solomon’s colonnade. And the Jewish leaders circled round him and said to him ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ – speak to us plainly.’
Jesus answered them: ‘I told you, but you do not believe.
The works which I do in the name of my Father bear witness about me.
But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep. My sheep, they hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me.
And I give them resurrection life and they will never ever be lost, and no-one will snatch them from my hand.
What my Father has given me are of greater value than anything else, and no one can take them from my father’s hand. I and the father are one in purpose.’
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.