The Gospel According to John 17:11-19
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.”
Reflection: When confronted by the prefect of Rome, Rusticus, to make a sacrifice to the Roman gods, St. Justin said, “No right-minded man forsakes the truth for falsehood. Do with us as you will. We are Christians, and we cannot sacrifice to idols.” And for that he was be-headed. And that is why there is the word ‘Martyr’ after his name. He would not compromise his faith, even in the face of death. How many of us worship idols? Raise your hand if you would sacrifice your life for your belief in Jesus Christ as your Savior? There have been so many that have done that so willingly, and without any hesitation.
Jesus tells us that he wants to share with us His joy completely. He gave us everything we need to know as they are written in the Gospels. The truth shall set you free. He gave us the truth so that we might share that with others through our words and our actions, loving others as He loves us. Sacrificing self for the good of others. Sharing with those who live without any simple basic needs or have nothing. My wife and I drove to my sisters house this last weekend and at stopping for gas and walking the dogs, she observed a woman alone with nothing more than a dog and the clothes on her back. She walked over to her and talked to her. She acknowledged her and made her feel like someone cared enough, for her and her dog, to make sure she was ok. She gave her some money for food and gave her a blessing. And for a brief moment in this woman’s crumbling world, she felt a gift from God. Compassion from another human being.
Action of the Day: For just today, I would like to challenge all of you to do one act of kindness for someone that you know or that you don’t know. Whether it is someone you see at work or someone you see in public that needs simple human contact or just a word. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is the truth!
Audio Reflection:
Well done, George.