Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr. Emmanuel de Leon, SVD – Baguio City
Tuesday 7th Week of Easter
Image: Wikimedia Commons
At the crisis of a battle in the war, a vital communication line between a certain division and army battle headquarters went dead. Somewhere the wire had been cut by the enemy shells and it was absolutely essential to get it repaired at once.
Only one signal was available in the divisional staff at the moment and he went out to find the break and connect it. In a few minutes the messages began to come in again. An hour later, the man had still not returned and a party was sent out to look for him. He was found lying beside the line, holding together in his hands the two broken ends, with a great shell wound over his heart, from which he had bled to death…
–Bruno Hagspiel
The story would remind us of Christ’s role as mediator of the broken connection between God and man.
Today’s Gospel pericope from St. John is known as Jesus’s high priestly prayer in which he is simultaneously a priest and a victim. It is a prayer of consecration on behalf of those for whom the sacrifice is offered, namely: Jesus’s disciples and all who will come to faith and follow Jesus.
After establishing intimate bonding with his disciples through the long farewell discourse, the washing of the feet, and especially the giving of his body and blood, Jesus now holds communion with his Father on their behalf, through his priestly prayer. Because this is his prayer of consecration, in view of his coming suffering and death on the cross, Jesus faithfully accepted the great sacrifice.
Aware that the passion would demand a lot from him, now Jesus prays for strength and assurance that he be glorified by the Father. The glory that will be given to him only if he accepts the holy will, the divine plan of the Father, of saving humankind and pouring his bountiful blessing to the world, by means of his sacrifice on the cross.
In his priestly prayer, Jesus first acknowledges the Father’s glory, by raising his eyes to heaven and addressing the Father in loving intimacy even in time of impending pain and sorrow.
In the light of the Gospel we meditate on today, we examine ourselves as we ask; How about us? In moments of difficulty, do we remain to be the loving and obedient children of God? When we pray, do we bring ourselves before God in spirit of humble resignation and trust? Or, like spoiled brats before an indulgent father, do we make unreasonable demands?
One comment