Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Jn 17:11b-19
June 1, 2022 | Wednesday

Today’s Gospel

I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep those you have given me in your name, so that they may be one, as we also are.

When I was with them, I kept them safe in your name; and not one was lost, except the one who was already lost, and in this, the Scripture was fulfilled. And now I come to you; in the world I speak these things, so that those whom you gave me, might have joy—all my joy within themselves.

I have given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world, I do not ask you to remove them from the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.

I have sent them into the world as you sent me into the world; and for their sake, I go to the sacrifice by which I am consecrated, so that they too may be consecrated in truth.

Today’s Reflection:

Our Gospel for today is a continuation of Jesus’ Priestly Prayer. What is unique in this prayer is that while Jesus was talking to God, His disciples were also listening to Him. In a way, this prayer is both a prayer and also a way of Jesus giving instruction to His disciples.

In one of the petitions, Jesus asks the Father, “Consecrate them in truth.” Consecration in the scriptures comes from the same Hebrew word which means “holy” or “set apart for God”. When Jesus asked God to consecrate His disciples, He wants us to be holy and He wants us to belong to God. It is God’s way of telling us, “You belong to me. You are mine.” With this, we need to make a solid decision, “Are we of the world or do we belong to God alone?” /Vulnerasti, 2022