Mass Readings:

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 17:20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: "I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

REFLECTION:  "Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

We have been given the opportunity to see how Jesus prayed and how He loved His Father.  We have an excellent tutor and this lesson has been handed down to us.

We are asked to seek out kindred souls in our PAPA missionary work. A soul who has three kindred spirits--FAITH, HOPE and LOVE .  Jesus wants us to not only have unity of purpose and vision but the unity of love which He shares in His Father's perfect selfless love.

 He shares "in" not shares "with" His Father's love.  No cooperating to be nice, no tolerance because that is what is the norm, no measured acts of mercy or kindness  but actually loving as He and the Father love-- selflessly.

Jesus, in this gospel, is praying for us to His Father. He prays the day before His death. Prayer opens up the veil and brings us face to face with God. Jesus prayed for Simon Peter when Satan demanded to have him (Luke 22:32), he prayed for His disciples during the storm (Mark 6:46-51) and he prays for us, interceding continuously in the heavenly throne (Hebrews 7:25). 

May the priests pray for us as we pray for them. May we make Jesus known and loved by all. Jesus will work through the power of the Holy Spirit to draw us into this unified love. The priest brings us this marvel of God in the Eucharist.

God Bless You