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Home > Catholic Daily Reflections > Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year C - The Prayer of Jesus
Podcast: Catholic Daily Reflections
Episode:

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year C - The Prayer of Jesus
Category: Religion & Spirituality
Duration: 00:04:01
Publish Date: 2019-06-01 11:00:23
Description: “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.”  John 17:20-21 (Year C)

John’s Gospel, Chapter 17, is referred to as Jesus’ High Priestly prayer.  It’s a long and beautiful prayer that would be worth reading in its entirety for reflection. 

Jesus begins by speaking to the Father that “the hour has come.”  His hour of suffering and death is upon Him.  But He sees it as an opportunity for His glorification.  This is an important revelation within John’s Gospel and especially within this prayer.  The Cross is horrible from a human perspective alone.  But from the divine perspective or the will of the Father and the salvation of the world, it is glorious and the moment in which Jesus takes up His throne of the Cross.  It is glorious because He perfectly fulfills the will of the Father through His freely embraced suffering.

From there, Jesus prays for the Apostles in particular.  He prays for their mission so that they will have the grace they need to also embrace the will of the Father and continue the work of Jesus.  He knows that it is only by embracing their crosses, in accord with the will of the Father, that they will be able to be glorified.

Lastly, Jesus prays for those who would come to faith through the ministry of the Apostles.  In particular, He prays for their unity.  The unity Jesus is speaking of is a oneness that comes as a result of being united with the Father in Heaven.  It is this oneness that leads to glorification for all.  And, once again, this oneness is achieved only by being in full union with the will of the Father.

Reflect, today, upon this beautiful prayer and as you do, allow the Lord to speak to you.  Hear Him calling you to perfect fulfillment and glory.  But know that this is achieved by the embrace of your “hour.”  The Father is calling you to follow in the footsteps of His Son by laying down your life in perfect obedience to the Father’s will.  Embracing this cross is the path to Heaven and Jesus’ prayer provides all the grace you need to say “Yes.”

Father in Heaven, I choose to embrace Your perfect and holy will in all things.  I accept from You the invitation to embrace my crosses in life and to enter into the hour to which You have called me.  May I find true glory in this hour and may my life always give glory to You.  Jesus, I trust in You.
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