Reflections on Scripture | Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
John 17:1-11a

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,
"Father, the hour has come.
Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people,
so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth
by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.
Now glorify me, Father, with you,
with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

"I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world.
They belonged to you, and you gave them to me,
and they have kept your word.
Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,
because the words you gave to me I have given to them,
and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you,
and they have believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me,
because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours
and everything of yours is mine,
and I have been glorified in them.
And now I will no longer be in the world,
but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.”

Reflection

There are not many passages in Scripture that are a conversation between Jesus and God. But this one is so important. He’s giving us a clear indication of what His ministry was about.

It was about putting people, not in touch with information, but the presence of God. He longed for them to enter into a similar relationship that He had with God, and that was one of intimacy where everything that Jesus has was from God. And everything that Jesus gives is from God. They are one. And in a way, it's really hard for us to understand that we have that inheritance, God can dwell in our humanity, as imperfect as it is, and manifest Himself.

That's the message of Jesus. We are to live as He lived, to minister as He ministered. And we have confidence because Christ Himself says to us, I'm praying for you. I am praying that you will allow the divinity in you to do the work you are meant to accomplish.

Closing Prayer

Father, keep us from reducing the beauty and the fullness of your message to something that involves earning our salvation by doing what we're supposed to do because we're told to. Open us to this amazing mystery that you're calling us to carry your presence, not just information about you, but your very presence into the lives of those who are ready, open, receptive. It's a work that we have total confidence in because it is, you. You've empowered us to do it. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflections Archives

Kyle Cross