Today’s Theme for Prayer – God Gives Himself to Me
Power to Rejoice in My Union With God
Jn 17:11-26
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 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. 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, 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.”
Grace Prayed For
Unity with God and Others: Jesus’ fervent prayer for unity – “that they may be one, just as we are” – calls us to seek a deeper union with God and with fellow believers. Pray for the grace to overcome divisions, foster harmony, and experience the profound connection that comes from being united in Christ..
In the Shadow of the Cross, a Prayer
This passage from John 17 offers a glimpse into the heart of Jesus, a sacred moment of intimate prayer where He pours out His love and concern for His disciples, and for us. It’s a prayer that echoes through the ages, a testament to the enduring bond between Christ and His followers.
Imagine the scene: the Last Supper, shadows lengthening, the weight of betrayal and sacrifice hanging heavy in the air. Yet, amidst the looming darkness, Jesus lifts His eyes to heaven and intercedes for His beloved friends. He prays not for their escape from the world, but for their protection within it.
“Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.” He longs for unity, a reflection of the perfect oneness He shares with the Father. This unity isn’t about uniformity, but a harmony of hearts, a shared purpose rooted in love.
He acknowledges the world’s hostility, its rejection of those who follow Him. “The world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.” Yet, He doesn’t pray for their removal from this world, but for their preservation within it. They are to be in the world, but not of it, lights shining in the darkness, salt preserving its flavor.
“Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.” He prays for their sanctification, their transformation by the power of truth. This truth isn’t a mere concept, but a Person – Jesus Himself, the Word made flesh. He is the source of their strength, their guide, their constant companion.
And His prayer extends beyond those present, reaching across time to encompass all who would believe through their word. “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” This includes us, drawn into the circle of His love, embraced by His intercession.
He desires our unity, our perfection, our complete joy. He longs for us to share in His glory, to experience the fullness of His love. This is the heart of a Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.
As we immerse ourselves in this prayer, let us be filled with gratitude for the love that flows from it. Let us be challenged to live in the world, but not of it, consecrated in truth, united in love, and filled with the joy of Christ. Let us remember that we are held in the Father’s hand, protected by His name, and cherished by the One who prayed for us before the foundation of the world.
Growing in Intimacy with Jesus
Experiencing His Love for You: Jesus’ prayer reveals the depth of His love for His followers, a love that extends to us today. As you meditate on His words, allow yourself to be enveloped by this love. Realize that you are included in this intimate circle of those He cherishes and intercedes for. This awareness of being loved so deeply fosters a sense of belonging and draws you closer to His heart.
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