May 30 2006

Jn 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 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.” "I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me..." Jesus speaks to the Father on the behalf of those who believe the Word and live in the love of Christ. That they may be glorified in God. There is a large part of the world that has not chosen to follow God. It is a hard saying to exclude some from the glory but belief is needed for eternal life in Christ. The followers of God accepted the words of Jesus as the words of God the Father and believed that the Father sent Jesus. I pray for a heart that is open to the Word and loving of the Father and Son and filled with the flame of courage and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. As we approach Pentecost, I pray Come Holy Spirit and enlighten the hearts and minds of your people.

"Be not afraid"...I have come finally in my spiritual life to a point of embracing the words be not afraid and living them in my faith. With God all things are possible and I am filled each morning and day with joy and wonder. I look forward to the journey and am filled also with gratitude for the blessings received and hope that I can use all the gifts given to further the kingdom. That in God all things may be glorified. I pray to be a sign of peace and the love of God to all I encounter this day.