Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Rodrigo Salac SVD – Virgin Dolorosa Parish, Samal Island, Davao
Thursday 7th Week of Easter
Jesus prayed to the Father that all may be one.
–That the Father would watch the apostles in their mission to proclaim the Kingdom that they and God may be one (Jn 17:1-19).
–That those who believe in him because of the message of the apostles may be one in Him (Jn 17, 20-24).
–That he will continue to make the Father known to them so that they will possess the Father’s love and that he may dwell in them (Jn, 25-26).
The Father answered him and we have today a One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
The Father answers prayers according to His terms, not ours. Jesus prayed fervently to his Father to save him from death and because he was humble and obedient the Father answered his prayers (Heb 5:7). The Father allowed him to be killed but he resurrected from the dead. He got more than what he asked for.
Paul wanted to go to Rome. The Father granted his wish not as a freeman but as a prisoner. Together with Peter, they proclaimed the Kingdom of God in Rome and eventually succeeded, as history would tell us. However, they did not live to see their success as Emperor Nero had them killed.
As it was with the prayers of Jesus and the apostle Paul, so it is also with ours. God answers all our prayers according to His terms, not ours. Every time God answers our prayers, it would be for our ultimate union with Him.
That is what happened to the prayers of Jesus, Paul and the apostles and that is what will happen to our prayers also. So then, pray and remember: God’s will shall be done.
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