Word to the Wise
Thursday, June 6, 2019 - 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 word may believe that you sent me. [John]
The tangled web of Jesus' words in today's gospel scripture from the Last Supper discourse - the High Priestly Prayer - reminds me of some of those complex Palestrina motets where different voices interact saying the same things but in different notes which blend to produce an overall sound. That overall sound could be summarized as a reflection on Jesus' relationship to the Father, which he has shared with us so that we may believe in him as the one whom God as sent. We, in turn, share that relationship with others. Jesus' prayer includes all those who will come to faith as a result of our efforts.
It can be a humbling experience to know someone who has come to faith as a result of experiencing our own faith and living it. One who has served as a baptismal or confirmation sponsor at the Easter Vigil can testify to this. Sometimes we may not know of the impact of our faith on someone until years later when they mention it to us. Nevertheless, they have received through our witness, the eternal life that Jesus gives to those who believe in him. If we can bring something that important to someone else by our own fidelity, we have truly accomplished a work of God. AMEN