Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
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May 28, 2020Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
“I pray not only for these,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them.”
Our Gospel today comes from John chapter 17. The entire chapter precedes Christ’s betrayal and death and really focuses mostly on his prayer and glorification. The main point of this prayer is for unity.
Just as Christ and the Father are one, we are to be one with them and one with each other. Though this extends to all people, it is especially important amongst fellow Catholics. The division and discord that is
sometimes found between parishes or peoples is the exact opposite of what Christ is calling us to.
So that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me…
I know lately more than ever, people have a great desire to be around others. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”, as the expression goes. Our desire to see others should be about more than just filling our social calendar, but rather during this time we have all been given a chance to think long and hard about the relationships that we have and where we are lacking. As we see some of the Coronavirus restrictions lifted, let us use them as a time to unite in love and care for one another, then we
may all be one as Christ commanded.
It's funny that right now I am talking to you about togetherness from a locked and empty Church. Right now I really wish that I could be saying this to a packed Church, but I started on the Webcam and I’ll end
my time at Christ Our Savior on the webcam.
On Monday I start my pastoral year assignment. I’ll be moving out of St. Cyril’s and heading to St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in the Mid Mon Valley and I am really excited about it, but I will miss living here. I really can’t even begin to thank the parish and most especially Fr. Tony for allowing me to stay here throughout the quarantine.
Though I didn’t get to meet many of you, I will miss you and continue to pray for you, please pray for me.
