Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:
“Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,
and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
except the son of destruction,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you.
I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth.
Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them,
so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.These two lines tell us so much about the world and God’s plan for it. The world today is ruled by the evil one, and the pain and suffering that we experience is the the result of our sin, and the repercussions of it. This was our free choice, and not Gods plan for us. He wanted us to live in blissful peace and harmony with each other, to provide us everything that we would ever need, and to delight in our happiness and joy. But we instead chose to sin and do things our own way. And thus the world, is a hard and broken place, full of sin and the evil one’s lies.
It is up to the followers of Jesus, His original apostles, and all of His disciples for the last 2000 years, that have tried to live in the friendship of God, to walk that line between living in this world, but not being subject to it. That is what Jesus is praying for, and hopes that we will accomplish. Not to save us from this world, because this world is passing away, but instead to protect us from the Evil One, so that we can live in this world, and while at the same time, do the work that He has called us to do.
So what is that work? Simply…, to save souls, and slay error. We are called to live in this broken world, and to find souls that are lost, and bring them back in to the fold. And if we do that, then not only us, but all of the Lords discilples will be able to share in the Lords joy completely…This is His plan for all time, and it is what will eventually happen at the end of time, but until then we have work to do. We need to stay close to the sacraments, learn our faith, and teach and help others that are lost to become disciples as well, so when the final time comes we will all be able to share in God’s joy completely.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh lord, help me today to save souls, and to help prepare your world for your return. Amen.