The Gospel
John 17:1-11
Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
”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.”
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There is something very comforting and beautiful in this text. Here we see Jesus praying to the Father for us, for those for whom he at that point is about to offer his life. The comfort and the beauty of this moment are almost too great for words.
This reading has an added sentiment for me. It was the Gospel at my ordination to the priesthood nearly 14 years ago. And how fitting it was, especially with the piece on unity. I was ordained by 2 bishops. At that time I was a Lutheran, and so the Lutheran bishop was the primary consecrater. There was also an Episcopalian bishop present who assisted with the laying on of hands and consecration. Ironically enough now I am an Episcopalian and canonically resident in the diocese that this bishop served as Canon to the Ordinary before being elected to be a bishop of the Church.
Father Tim+
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