Seventh Sunday of Easter
John 17:6-19 (NRSV)
John 17:6-19 (NRSV)
Christ's prayer for his disciples
"I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
"I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
Reflection
The name of God is now openly used in Jesus. Once a name not to be uttered aloud has now become a name to be proclaimed and shouted from roof-top to roof-top, from mountain to mountain. The name of Jesus is our way of life and salvation and is to be proclaimed to all God gives to us each day.
The Word of God is given to us in knowledge and faith. Jesus came into this world and has taught his disciples. We gladly sit at his feet and hear the Word. We come in prayer and devotion day after day and read the Word of the Bible and see the glory of Jesus shining brightly from Old Testament through New Testament. We gather in church to hear the Word spoken and see the Word made alive in the Sacraments. Jesus teaches his disciples through all time.
Jesus prays for his disciples. Jesus loves and cares for all creation but especially for those who have come to believe and have faith in him and have become his disciples. Jesus understands the struggles of this world and what we endure for his name. So Jesus prays for his disciples with the love and care of a mother or father for their children.
Jesus gives us the gift of faith and Jesus is the gift. In the disciples belief, Jesus gives faith. We can trust in Jesus and his Word. All he teaches and says to us is truth and life. Jesus lived to give and shows this giving in the giving of his own life on the cross. The suffering and the death to be destroyed by his resurrection. This is the gift of life Jesus gives to us in the promise that his disciples too will be resurrected to live as one with Jesus.
Jesus prays for us as we are in the world and need his prayers. As his disciples we are not given a free pass through this world. We are to live in this world and proclaim to all this wonderful gift of life Jesus has come to give all people. We live in a world of sin, death and evil. We are subject to the wickedness of the devil and his empty promises, but we also understand that Jesus gives us the endurance we will need to spread his graceful message to all those who present themselves and all those of whom we present ourselves to in this life. We can tell of the life Jesus has come to give.
Jesus prays for our unity. Unity as the Father, Son and Spirit have unity and are One. As disciples we are to live in unity with one another. We are Jesus' own and belong to him. We are here to announce new life in Jesus that only God can give. In this unity, we can rejoice together and be strengthened and encourage one another as we live our lives in the midst of sin and evil. We love one another with the love that Jesus has shown to us. Our unity is a wonderful respite in the midst of our journey through this earthly life.
Jesus keeps and guards us and prays that we have the joy he has. What a wonderful gift we have been given. Jesus has given us a joy made complete in Jesus' life. A joy that brings the broadest, widest smile and the biggest belly laugh of all. Jesus brings joy into our lives and refreshes us with FUN!
Jesus has given us his Word. This is the whole message and action of Jesus. Again we know of our giving God in the Word given to us, through Jesus, the Bible and through the Holy Spirit active in the lives of the disciples yesterday and today.
We are not given an escape route, rather we are given preservation in the journey. There will be a day when our journey on this earth ends. But until that day we live wildly in the hope and honor of living for Jesus and announcing to all the world through the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to us that there is a way to life. A way in Jesus that all can come to.
We are made holy, are set apart because we have been given the truth and are made holy in the Truth. The Truth that Jesus saves! Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Jesus, I need your prayers and I need the fun you give. As your disciples journey through this life, keep us strong, unified in the Truth and joyful for the tough journey each of us have been given as we proclaim your saving grace to all the world... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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