Posted by The WORD in other words (2010) by Frater Ferdinand Bajao SVD – Divine Word Seminary of Tagaytay
Wednesday 7th Week of Easter
Everything was set for camp. I was nervous because it was my first time to sleep away from home. Mama and Papa were just as anxious. Mama prepared a kit with tablets, capsules, and ointments, while Papa checked my flashlight, compass, and tent. On the way, they gave me a litany of reminders: how to behave, how to deal with bullies, even how to run zig-zag if chased by a snake! When we arrived, they rushed to the camp director, giving him all the details about me, short of handing him a manual on how to “troubleshoot” me. Assured that I would be fine, they left — but not before secretly checking from a distance to make sure I was okay. Their message was clear: they loved me and wanted to see me safe before letting go.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is preparing to leave His disciples. He knows the road to Calvary is near. Like loving parents, He prays earnestly for their protection and well-being: “Holy Father, keep them in Your name… I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the son of destruction” (John 17:11–12). His concern was not only for the disciples of His time but also for those who would come after them — including us.
Jesus regarded His disciples not as slaves but as friends (John 15:15). His prayer reveals His deep love: He asks the Father to consecrate them in truth and to guard them from the evil one. Just as parents cannot easily let go of their child, Jesus could not simply leave His friends without entrusting them to the Father’s care.
Jesus reminds us that if the Father cares for the sparrows and the lilies of the field (Matthew 6:26–30), how much more will He care for us, His beloved children. He does not want us to feel orphaned. That is why He promised the Holy Spirit: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever” (John 14:16). The Spirit is our guide, our comforter, and the living reminder of Christ’s presence among us until the day we see Him face to face.
The love of Jesus is like the love of parents who cannot rest until they know their child is safe. He is Emmanuel — God-with-us — who pitched His tent among us and remains with us until the end of time (Matthew 28:20). Let us trust in His prayer, His Spirit, and His promise, knowing that we are never abandoned.
“Lord Jesus, thank You for praying for us, for entrusting us to the Father, and for sending us the Spirit. Help us to live with confidence, knowing You are always with us.”
