“The Fruit of Intimacy: Living the Mission of Christ’s Love”
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
John 17:1-26
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that your Son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now, Father, glorify me with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.
I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. When I was with them, I guarded them in your name that you gave me, and I protected 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. I 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.
I pray not only for them, 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, so 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, 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, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
Grace Prayed For
In light of this passage, the grace to pray for is the grace of intimate union with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that we might be fully consecrated in truth and sent into the world with the love of Christ. May we be given the grace to know God more deeply, to experience His love, and to be strengthened to live out the mission He has entrusted to us — to restore His creation by being vessels of love, peace, and reconciliation.
Reflection
In this prayer, Jesus’ heart is fully revealed — a heart that burns with a love for the Father and for all of us. In this moment of intimate communion, He speaks to the Father on behalf of His disciples and all who will come to believe in Him. This is a prayer of love, unity, and mission, where the very essence of God’s desire is that we may experience the love that binds the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus not only prays for the protection and sanctification of His followers, but He prays for our oneness — a unity that mirrors the eternal union between Himself and the Father.
Jesus declares that eternal life is to know the Father and the Son. To know them is to experience the fullness of love, the very love that calls us into a mission. As we grow in intimacy with God, we are empowered to go out and share that love. It is not a love that is meant to remain hidden but one that shines forth through us. As Jesus was sent, so are we sent — into the world, to be vessels of His love, truth, and reconciliation.
This passage invites us to reflect on the depth of God’s love for us. It reminds us that we are not isolated in our journey; Jesus has consecrated us, sent us into the world, and through the power of His Spirit, He has made us His instruments. Our encounters with others are not just casual meetings; they are opportunities to be agents of Christ’s love. We are entrusted with the mission of reconciliation — partnering with Jesus to restore all of creation.
To live in this love, we must first receive it. To grow in intimacy with God, we need to open ourselves to His presence in our everyday lives, allowing His love to change us. And from that transformation, we are called to go forth, radiating the love of God in every encounter, whether it’s a simple conversation with a neighbor, a prayer for someone in need, or standing up for justice in the face of oppression. Our lives, steeped in the love of God, become an active proclamation of the Gospel. The love of Christ compels us to restore, heal, and love the world as He does.
Daily Evangelization and Baptismal Mission
Practical Ways to Evangelize in Daily Life:
Engage in social justice — work to care for the poor, fight for the marginalized, and speak out against injustices in your community. These actions reflect the heart of the Gospel and invite others into the mission of restoration.
Live out the love of Christ in small daily actions — smile at strangers, offer a kind word, or lend a hand to someone in need. These actions speak louder than words.
Share the Gospel with those around you in both word and deed. Offer to pray for someone going through a tough time, or share a scripture that speaks to your heart in a conversation.
Be a witness to hope in your work or school. When others see you handling challenges with grace, they will wonder where that peace comes from, opening the door for you to share your faith.
Restore relationships that are broken — reach out to someone who has hurt you or who you have drifted from. This is part of the mission of reconciliation.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post