The Architecture of Eternity: Knowing the Only True God
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
John 17:1-5
When Jesus had said this, he 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 finishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.”
Grace Prayed For
The Grace of Experiential Knowledge: Pray for the grace to not just know about God, but to know Him deeply in your spirit, experiencing the “eternal life” of His presence in the midst of your daily chores and conversations.
Reflection
In these verses, we eavesdrop on the most intimate conversation in history: the Son speaking to the Father. Jesus defines eternal life not as a distant destination or a duration of time, but as a relationship. “This is eternal life, that they should know you.” To “know” in the biblical sense is to be in a communion so deep that two become one in purpose and heart.
As you sit with this passage, imagine Jesus looking at you with the same “raised eyes” he directed toward heaven. He is inviting you into the “Future Intimacy” you hunger for—a hope that isn’t just about what happens after death, but about the quality of your life right now. By finishing his work on the cross, Jesus bridged the gap so that the glory of the Trinity—that weight of pure, self-giving love—could dwell within you.
Taking the Message into Your Heart To grow in intimacy with the Trinitarian God, you must accept that you are part of this divine exchange. The Father gives to the Son, the Son gives to you, and you are called to give yourself back. When you realize that the God of the “before the world began” desires to be known by you, your prayer shifts from asking for things to simply resting in His presence. This is where your hope is anchored: in the unchanging glory of a God who has already claimed you.
Shining Love into the World How does this intimacy touch your daily encounters? If eternal life is “knowing” God, then every person you meet is someone God wants to know through you. When you enter a room, you do not go alone; you bring the atmosphere of eternity with you. You bring the “glory” of Christ—which is not a blinding light, but a humble, finishing work of love. In every encounter, ask yourself: “How can I help this person feel known by the Father today?” When you listen with empathy or serve with humility, you are finishing the work Jesus started, allowing the “Future Intimacy” of heaven to break into the present moment.
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