It is not easy to consider the world as a place in which humanity is brought to perfection. The words haunt us as we look at world events. But that is the Gospel message, today.
In today’s Gospel, Christ speaks on a truly epic scale of the interconnectedness between humanity and God, between earth and heaven, between the Father and his children. This moment is a major link in the chain as Christ prepares to leave the world, handing down his words so that we may continue to live and strive for the Kingdom of God.
Our greatest glory in this world is to become children of God, to outreach our basic human boundaries and live on a wider spiritual plain, to find God in our hearts and communicate his presence to others, in the love of that same God. This is what Jesus did, and it is what he asks of us. Christ did the will of the Father unfailingly, despite his worries and concerns, despite how it made others think of him. And, through this service, we are offered the gift of eternal life
This is what Jesus means when he said: “…I have given them the glory you gave me…”
Our glory is God the Father and our oneness in him through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This truth is not a thing to fully understand. It is a thing to live, to dearly desire through prayer, to strive for in all of our words and deeds. It cannot be upset or diminished by the evil around us. Perhaps the evil we encounter even helps to place our life’s calling more clearly before our eyes. No, the world may have war, hatred, dissection and selfishness, but the Easter promise is born from a sacrifice that has already broken the bonds of death. Yes, that battle is already won. But the war within our own hearts: that is still in the balance.
With Christ as our advocate, and with assiduous prayer and good deeds, with the Sacraments at our aid and the Gospels to fortify us, we pray for the grace to live as true and worthy Christians, that the Easter message may live through us.
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 17:20-26
Glory to you, O Lord.
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “Holy Father, 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.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ