Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 17, 1-11a
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 your son 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 glorify me, Father, 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 to 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.”
Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer
1. Jesus raised his eyes. God also invites you to raise your eyes. Whatever you have to face in life, look towards heaven and entrust to God everything that worries you and that you feel you can no longer bear. Jesus says this prayer at the hardest moment of his life, when He is alone, condemned, judged and defamed. Raise your eyes if you feel down knowing that God listens to you and that you’re not alone on this journey. Have faith, look to heaven, and trust in God’s guidance. Life’s purpose is greater, and heaven is your goal.
2. Know you. You can’t love someone you don’t know. Developing a personal relationship with God is essential for spiritual growth and embracing one’s identity as a Christian. Yes, it’s true that some people may identify as Christians in name or appearance only, without fully engaging in spiritual life during challenging times. They may be content with baptism and a superficial adherence to Christianity. However, Jesus emphasizes that Christianity is about knowing him and being able to see life through his eyes. That’s when you can face anything that comes your way, because you will see everything as an opportunity to grow.
3. In the world. We face difficulties in a society without God, therefore without love and without religion. But early Christians come to mind. They were persecuted and even slandered. They lived in Roman society, which left much to be desired in terms of ethics and morals. They endured persecution and slander, yet many saints emerged during those challenging times. Stop blaming society for everything that happens. Society is dynamic and it changes because it is cyclical, but Jesus remains constant and will not pass. As Christians, we bring light and peace amidst adversity. Reflect on your contribution to society through your profession or occupation. What seed are you planting in this world?
Remember something good is on the way!
God bless you and guard you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
