Sunday Gospel Reflection
"That they also may be consecrated in truth"

Introduction:

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a penetrating picture of God's 'wings.' After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.  One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.  The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast, because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live..." (Source unknown).

In this week's Gospel reading Jesus also is about to enter a fiery ordeal and willingly die in order to secure eternal life for his followers. The events of the coming week, his last meal with his friends, his betrayal, abuse and mockery of a trial, and his cruel death were known to him as assuredly as was the approaching holocaust to this mother
bird. What was on his mind as he saw the end approaching?

This week's Gospel passage, from John 17, provides an indelible snapshot of his inner focus and concern. Like the protective mother bird his utmost thoughts concerned the care and well being of his followers. Consequently we see him praying; Holy Father-keep them safe, keep them united ("that they may be one"), keep them joyful ("that they may have my joy"), keep them consecrated ("sanctify them in the truth"), keep them mobilized for the mission ("so I have sent them into the world"). These men  and
women represented all those that would believe in the future, these disciples were the seed-corn of Christianity. If they were worth dying for, it was imperative that they should be protected.

What did Jesus rely on to preserve their faith? Three things; his Heavenly Father's power, his Holy Word, and his Mission. Jesus was able to leave them and fully give himself to his saving work on the cross, because he knew preserving their lives was fully consistent with the Father's will, and fully within his Father's power.

Second, Jesus set in place the conditions that would ensure that his Word would be available to all his followers for all eternity, providing strength and direction. We must keep in mind that when Jesus prayed, "I have given them thy Word," not one of Jesus' words had been recorded or written as we know them in the Gospel. But the promise of the coming Holy Spirit who "will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you," (John 14:26).  And so he did, inspiring and reminding the Gospel writers of Jesus' words, and guiding them into the truth, which they recorded in what we now know as the New Testament books.

Lastly, Jesus left his followers with a mission that would provide the impetus for all they did; to take the knowledge of salvation in Christ to all the world, no small task. This mission provides focus and meaning for our existence, without which we would become complacent. As we know, complacency lends itself to a great degree of vulnerability. It is only as we stay focused on the mission Jesus gave us that we remain alert and ready advance the Kingdom of God.

Jesus, on this last evening with his disciples, was focused on our care and well being. As he went to his fiery ordeal he entrusted us to his Holy Father, the Holy Spirit, to his Word, and to his mission. We in turn should cooperate with his attempt to insure our well being by snuggling under these wings of protection.

First Reading
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said,
16 "Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17 For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry.
...
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and 'His office let another take.'
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us-one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."
23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen
25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place."
26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.

Second Reading
1 John 4:11-16
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his own Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  
16 So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Gospel Reading
John 17:11-19

11 And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast   given me, that they maye one, even as we are one.

12 While I was with them, I kept them in thy name, which thou hast given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled.

13 But now I am coming to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

14 I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one.

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth.

18 As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth.

Bible Study/Meditation

Jesus' aim and mission was to glorify his heavenly Father.   All he said and did gave glory to his Father.  On the eve of his sacrifice and in the presence of his disciples, Jesus made his high priestly prayer: "Holy Father, keep them in your name that they may be one as we are one".  Jesus prayed for the unity of his disciples.  Jesus' prayer for his people is that we  be united with God the Father in his Son and through his Holy Spirit and be joined together, in unity with all who are members of  Christ's body.  Jesus saw glory in the cross rather than shame. Obedience to his Father's will was his glory.  Jesus kept his Father's word even when tempted to forgo the cross.  His strength was not in himself but in his Father who kept him. We, too, must take up our cross and follow the Lord Jesus whever he may call us. He will give us the strength and power of the Holy Spirit to live as his disciples.  John Henry Newman wrote: "God has created me, to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another.   I have my mission-- I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.  He has not created me for nothing.  Therefore, I will trust him.  Whatever, wherever I am.   I cannot be thrown away." 

Jesus prayed that his disciples would be sanctified and consecrated in God's truth and holiness.  The scriptural word for consecration comes from the same Hebrew word which means holy or set apart for God.  This word also means to be equiped with the qualities of mind and heart and character for such a task or service.  Just as Jesus was called by the Father to serve in holiness and truth, so we, too, are called and equipped for the task of serving God in the world as his ambassadors.  God's truth frees us from ignorance and the deception of sin.  It reveals to us God's goodness, love, and wisdom.  And it gives us a thirst for God's holiness.  The Holy Spirit is the source and giver of all holiness.  As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, he transforms us by his purifying fire and changes us in the likeness of Christ. Is your life consecrated toGod?

Reflections:

· Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that move(s)/touche(s) you and what inner message of the heart is the Spirit whispering to you ?

. Imagine you are about to leave the group of close friends and disciples. What do you have to tell your group? What would your prayer be for them?

. John 17:11
  ----How does the world treat you? Are you given to Jesus "from this world?" Do I see myself as part of the risk Jesus has taken in choosing his followers?

. John 17:12
  ----How often do you pray for the protection and the unity of Jesus' followers and of the church?

. John 17:18
  ----Do you know what your aim or mission in life is?

. Do you trust in God and in his call for your life?

Prayer

Lord, take my life and make it wholly pleasing to you.   Sanctify me in your truth and guide me by your Holy Spirit that I may  follow you faithfully wherever you lead