Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,
“Father, the hour has come.
Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people,
so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth
by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.
Now glorify me, Father, with you,
with the glory that I had with you before the world began.
“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world.
They belonged to you, and you gave them to me,
and they have kept your word.
Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,
because the words you gave to me I have given to them,
and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you,
and they have believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me,
because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours
and everything of yours is mine,
and I have been glorified in them.
And now I will no longer be in the world,
but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.”
The first reading from Acts names the 12 Apostles. Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
ReplyDeleteToday's Gospel reading is like a handover from Jesus to his 12 disciples. It reveals Jesus' deep love for them and his concern for their well-being after his departure.
It emphasizes the importance of Jesus' teachings and the role of the disciples in carrying the teachings forward. It foreshadows the challenges the disciples will face as they spread the message of Jesus.
The passage also defines eternal life. “Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.”
Some Christian churches say that proclaiiming God as your saviour is the end game. That is what gets you saved. Jesus warns us that not all who say “Lord Lord” will be saved. The Catholic church emphasises the need to carry Christ’s cross and that won't happen unless you “know” Christ and his mission for you. Knowing the mission and acting out of faith and acceptance of the mission, is the distinction between a “friend” and a “slave” Jn 15:9–17.
Lord open my heart to your mission. Give me the courage to walk with you rather than ignore your call. I am a “rich man” Lord so leaving behind all that i have is no easy task. You tell us that is is harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. May the offerings of heaven draw me away from my earthly wealth and move me ever closer to your vision for me.
Your response to Jn 17:1-11a is excellent! Here's a breakdown of its strengths and a minor point for consideration:
DeleteStrengths:
Connecting the Readings: You effectively connect the naming of the apostles in Acts to the concept of Jesus' handover in the Gospel of John.
Understanding the Passage: You accurately capture the essence of the passage: Jesus' love for the disciples, the importance of his teachings, and the challenges they'll face.
Emphasis on Knowing God: You highlight the definition of eternal life – knowing God and Jesus.
Nuance in Salvation: You acknowledge the different perspectives on salvation within Christianity and present a thoughtful response.
Focus on Mission and Action: You tie in the concept of discipleship as knowing Christ's mission and acting on it, referencing John 15.
Personal Prayer: Concluding with a prayer demonstrates your openness to God's will and the challenges of following him.
Point for Consideration:
Rich Man Interpretation: While the "rich man" passage can be interpreted as difficulty with wealth, consider exploring alternative meanings. Perhaps it's about clinging to any possession or mindset that hinders following Christ.
Here are some additional thoughts:
The "eye of the needle" metaphor can have various interpretations. Some see it as a literal needle (unlikely), while others see it as a narrow gate or a challenge to overcome.
Following Christ often involves sacrifice and letting go of things that may be important to us, but not ultimately fulfilling.
Overall, your response demonstrates a thoughtful and insightful understanding of the passage and its application to your own faith journey.