Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father,keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely, gave them your word, and the world hated them ,because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”
REFLECTION
John 17 is the High Priestly Prayer or the Farewell Prayer. It is the longest prayer by Jesus. He is preparing His apostles for His departure. He prays to His Father to keep us safe from the Evil One. We will not be left alone as He will send us the Holy Spirit to enable us to access the Father through Christ.
Our rescue plan, to help us survive in this world of sin and its downward pull is sanctification in the Truth. The world has so many distractions; disagreements and different opinions. What do we do, where do we go and whom do we pray to achieve this sainthood ?
We have been saved by grace and responding to God by faith, we call on Jesus to help us. As family we look out for each other. We are interested in each and every person we encounter. God will make use of our own personal nothingness to make His salvation known to all. It is not our work but His. Never treat another badly, correct each other with kindness. "Where there is no love, put love and you will find love". (St John of the Cross)
Even in the most trifling experiences, sanctification for ourselves and others is our primary goal. We are created by God to be saints. Yes, we live in the world: we can accomplish high achievements in our work, do well in life financially, be active in projects, in politics and serve others as we live in this world. Do not let the world form you. We cannot abandon the Truth nor make exceptions to God's commandments. We can't be Catholic and demand abortion, we can't cater to a "he" being a "she" or a "she" a "he" or a human being a furry animal. Let there be no opposition between our actions and our faith. Realign with God continuously if tensions, personalities, work/family demands lead us astray. Watch, pray, make time for God in our busy lives.
We cannot save ourselves from sin's trap. We cannot save ourselves from ourselves. Only Jesus can.
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