THURSDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 17:20-26) THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
FIRST READING - Acts 22:30, 23:6-11
"For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”
A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
30 The next day, wishing to determine the truth about why he was being accused by the Jews, he freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.
6 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.” 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. 9 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?” 10 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 him from their midst and take him into the compound. 11 [a]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 - Jn 17:20-26
"I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one."
✠From the Gospel according to John
20 “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 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. 22 And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 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. 24 Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am[a] 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. 25 Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. 26 I made known to them your name and I will make it known,[b] 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 to a quiet place to pray to God the Father, offering up prayers for all people in the world. This prayer originated from the very love of Jesus Christ for His disciples, as well as for all those who hear the disciples' words and believe in the name of Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity who descended to earth to become man.
Jesus prayed to God the Father that all may be one, just as God the Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father, and that all of His children may also be in God the Father. He yearned for everyone to always have unity, to be closely joined as one, and to dwell in one another just as God the Father is united as one with God the Son, and the Holy Spirit is present within that unity.
The Holy Trinity is never separated in God's plan of creation and salvation for humanity.
Now, before Jesus Christ prepared to return to God the Father, while He was still in the world with His disciples, He prayed to God the Father: “I desire that those whom You have given Me may be with Me where I am, and I do not want to lose any of them.”\
Such is the boundless love of Jesus Christ for humanity. He wants humanity to return to God the Father and be united as one with the Father.
God the Father loves humanity just as He loves the Son. He brings humanity into a closed circle, which is the circle of love between God and humanity. No one in this world possesses a love as vast and great as God's love for humanity. Therefore, He desires of humanity to experience the love God has for us by living in intimate union with God in their daily lives. He also desires of humanity to live and experience the love of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to save humanity.
When we live and experience the love that God has for humanity, we will then revere and love God above all things, and will spread the love we have received from God and pass that love on to our brothers and sisters.
God always desires of humanity to have a relationship of love with God and with our neighbors. He desires of humanity to always have a twofold love; not just love for God while abandoning or forgetting those around us, for everyone is an image of God. Therefore, all who wish to find happiness with God the Father must live in love with God and with our neighbors as the image of the love of God the Father for God the Son and for humanity.
In today's Word of God, God the Father calls upon humanity:
To love God above all things and to love our neighbors as ourselves, for this is the most perfect and noble love.
To live in unity with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and to remain in His Church.
His Church is the body of Jesus Christ, and there is always only one God. Believe in and worship the one true God.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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