THURSDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 17:20-26) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“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.” (Jn 17:18-19)

FIRST READING - Acts 22:30; 23:6-11

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

Wishing to determine the truth

about why Paul was being accused by the Jews,

the commander freed him

and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene.

Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.

Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees,

so he called out before the Sanhedrin,

"My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees;

I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead."

When he said this,

a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees,

and the group became divided.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection

or angels or spirits,

while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.

A great uproar occurred,

and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party

stood up and sharply argued,

"We find nothing wrong with this man.

Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

The dispute was so serious that the commander,

afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them,

ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst

and take him into the compound.

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage.

For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem,

so you must also bear witness in Rome."

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 17:20-26

From the Gospel according to John

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:

"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,

that the world may believe that you sent me.

And I have given them the glory you gave me,

so that they may be one, as we are one,

I in them and you in me,

that they may be brought to perfection as one,

that the world may know that you sent me,

and that you loved them even as you loved me.

Father, they are your gift to me.

I wish that where I am they also may be with me,

that they may see my glory that you gave me,

because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,

but I know you, and they know that you sent me.

I made known to them your name and I will make it known,

that the love with which you loved me

may be in them and I in them."

THURSDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 17:20-26)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today’s Word of God recounts the conversation between Jesus and God the Father.

After the Last Supper, Jesus went out to a deserted place to pray to God the Father, offering His petitions on behalf of all people in the world. This prayer comes from the deep love Jesus Christ has for His disciples, as well as for all those who listen to the disciples and believe in His name—Jesus Christ, the Second Person of God who came down to earth and became a human being.

Jesus prayed to God the Father that all may be one, just as the Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father, and that all God's children may also be in Him. He desires that human beings be united—deeply united with one another—just as God the Father and God the Son are united, with the Holy Spirit dwelling in the midst of that unity. The Holy Trinity is never separated in God’s plan of creation and salvation for humankind.

As Jesus was preparing to return to the Father, while still present in the world with His disciples, He prayed:

“Father, they are Your gift to Me. I wish that where I am, they also may be with Me, and I do not want to lose anyone.”

This reveals the boundless love of Jesus Christ for humanity. He desires that people return to the Father and become one with Him.

Just as the Father loves the Son, so too does He love humanity. He invites us into a sacred circle of love—a divine relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and all of humanity. There is no love in this world as great and immense as God’s love for people. Therefore, He wants us to experience His love in our daily lives by living in close union with Him. He also wants us to encounter the love of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to save us.

When people live in and experience God’s love, they will naturally grow in reverence, loving God above all things, and sharing that love with their brothers and sisters.

God always desires that we live in a loving relationship—not only with Him, but also with one another. He calls us to a two-way love: not to love God while abandoning or forgetting those around us, because every person is created in God’s image. Therefore, anyone who wants to be joyful with God the Father must live in love with both God and neighbor, reflecting the love between God the Father, God the Son, and all humanity.

Today, God invites all people to:

• Love God above all things and love others as yourself, for this is the most perfect and noble love.

• Live in unity with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and remain faithful to His Church.

• His Church is the Body of Jesus Christ—there is only one God. Believe in Him and worship Him alone.

Thanks be to God. Amen.