Week of May 16, 2010, John 17:20-26

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from the Gospel of John, chapter 17, verses 20 to 26. It is a part of the conversation Jesus had with his disciples the night before he was crucified and died. And this particular section is Jesus’ prayer to his Father, where he also prays for us when he says “for those who will believe in me.” The words are profound and reflective and are understood with time spent on our part pondering those words. This passage is from the Message Bible:
20-23I'm praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, so they'll be as unified and together as we are— I in them and you in me. Then they'll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that you've sent me and loved them in the same way you've loved me.
24-26Father, I want those you gave me to be with me, right where I am, so they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me, having loved me long before there ever was a world. Righteous Father, the world has never known you, but I have known you, and these disciples know that you sent me on this mission. I have made your very being known to them— who you are and what you do— and continue to make it known, so that your love for me might be in them exactly as I am in them.

Jesus, thank You for showing to us the intimacy that You have with Your Father. Thank You for praying for all the people that have come after that time. Your prayers then include us today. Thank You for reminding us about the unity that You have prayed for, for the maturity in oneness for the Church. Thank You, Jesus, for the ministry in mission that You bring to us, the mission to others about who You are, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and what You have done.

Thank You for inviting us into the relationship of a transcendent God and a personal God, God who is in heaven and God who is in each of us.

Thanks, Jesus, for Your love that surrounds us, Your peace that comes to us, Your presence with us always. Amen.

May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to Himself;
May the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in His service;
May the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls;
May the fire of the Holy Spirit bring comfort to you, guide you in your decisions, and fill you
with a fervent desire to serve Him better.
And may the blessing of the almighty and most merciful God - Creator, Word and eternal Holy Spirit - be upon us and remain with us always.
In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may leave a message or prayer request by emailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May you be more and more aware of God’s presence as you live each day.