These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Lifting 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.” (Jn 17:20-26)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/lecturas/052523.cfm
The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus comes to a conclusion with this passionate plea for unity. In fact, unity among believers is essential so that the “world may believe that you sent me.” Christian Unity can never become pasé. Christian Unity is the constant prayer of Jesus.
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” (Jn 17:11b-19)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052423.cfm
The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus continues. And what a powerful prayer it is. A prayer for unity among believers, a prayer of consecration. In a world torn by so many divisions not the least being the divisions in the church and between believers, we need this prayer more than ever before. Mary Help of Christians is an old and popular title of the Virgin Mary. I learned the devotion to Mary Help of Christians from my Colombian madrecita, Doña Ofelia Arroyave.
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. (Jn 17:1-11a)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/tuesday-seventh-week-easter
The 17th chapter of the Fourth Gospel has often been called the “High Priestly Prayer of Jesus.” It is part of additional material that has been added in a subsequent edition of the gospel. This additional material (parts of Chapter 14 and all of Chapters 15, 16 & 17) has also been called the “Last Testament” of Jesus. The form of the High Priestly Prayer is unusual: Jesus is praying to the Father and we get to listen in. We will be “eavesdropping” over the next few days.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." (Jn §6:19-33)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052223.cfm
When I was in college there was a popular board game of world conquest called Risk. Of course, that’s NOT what Jesus is talking about. Jesus conquers the world not through war and violence. In the Passion Narrative, Jesus tells Peter to “put away the sword” (Mt 26:52). Rather it is through Love and the Offering of himself that Jesus conquers the world and wins our hearts.
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:1-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052922-ascension.cfm
Looking up in the sky isn’t wrong—but we’ve been goofing off long enough. The Lord’s given us a mission and the world really needs us. Time to get moving—let’s get to work!
