Word to the Wise
Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 7th Week of Easter - Thurs
[Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 and John 17:20-26]"I pray not only for these, 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." [John]
JUNE 1 ST. JUSTIN, martyr
This portion of the Farewell Discourse at the Last Supper in the Gospel According to John is called "the High Priestly Prayer." It is a rather repetitive, almost spiraling, prayer for the disciples and their relationship to Jesus and the Father and for their future ministry. Jesus refers to disciples as the Father's "gift" to him! Can we imagine ourselves in that way?
Jesus' prayer extends to all those who will come to faith because of our "word." This word is our faith in Jesus as the one whom God has sent. Those who experience the unity between the disciple and Jesus, for which Jesus is praying, will find a powerful path to eternal life. It all comes down to the believing that Jesus is the one whom God has sent. Everything hinges on this faith-fact. We can be assured of Jesus' prayer for us as we live out that faith. AMEN