Reflection for Thursday, Seventh Week of Easter

TODAY'S WORD

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

John: 17:20 "I pray not only for these, 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,"


1st  READING REFLECTION

In the 1st reading, those words of St. Paul threw his enemies into confusion. But those words were certainly empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts so that from the fullness our hearts, our mouths will speak the words of God.


GOSPEL REFLECTION

In the gospel passage today we see the conclusion of Jesus praying for his disciples.

It consists of two further specific prayers of Jesus.

He prays that his disciples would be one as he and the Father are one.

This prayer of Jesus has been the key inspirational text for the ecumenical movement that has grown in pace during the second half of the twentieth century.

The unity among his followers that Jesus prays for isn’t simply the result of human effort, although it does require work on everyone’s part.

More fundamentally, this unity among his disciples derives from their relationship with Jesus and with God the Father.

That is why Jesus prays, ‘May they be one in us’.

Our relationship with each other as disciples of Jesus deepens as our relationship with Jesus and with God the Father deepens.

As Jesus says, ‘With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one’.

When we make a home in our lives for the Lord and for God the Father, then we grow closer to each other, we grow in unity.

When we receive into our lives the love of God and the love of Jesus for us, then we will be able to love one another as we are loved and we will become more fully one.

That is why at the end of the reading, Jesus expresses the hope that the love God has for him may be in his disciples.

Jesus also prays to the Father that his disciples would ‘be with me where I am, so that they may always see my glory’.

This is our final goal beyond this earthly life. Our ultimate destiny is to be in communion with the risen Lord.

Our present calling which leads to that destiny is to allow the Lord to be in communion with us, so that  we can take the Lord as our way, the way of loving others as he loves us.


RESOLUTION

Let's resolve  to  deepen our union with the Father and enjoy greater freedom of happiness and joy.


SAINT OF THE DAY

BERNARDINE OF SIENA

Let us seek the intercession of St Bernardine of Siena, whose feast we celebrate today.

May we be encouraged by his words to live our lofty vocation of being an Intimate Follower of Christ, "Whenever the divine favour chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation.  God adorns the person chosen, with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfil the task at hand!”

GOD BLESS YOU 🙏

Good morning. Have a nice safe day.

Continue to pray for the good health of Fr. Stan Swamy