Lenten Reflection - John 17: 9-19 by Luis Morales
“9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[a] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[b] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[c] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” John 17: 9-19
Selfless. A word often used to describe Jesus. This passage is part of Jesus’ prayer to God shortly before he is arrested to be put to death. And he’s praying for his disciples. For you. For me. The shepherd is caring for his sheep, interceding on our behalf. “Holy Father, protect them…so they may be one as we are one.”
In a selfie-driven, self-absorbed world, we are shown an example of how not to be “of this world,” even as we are called to go into the world for His sake. Powerful stuff. Difficult stuff. We are asked to go counter to our learned habits. But our mediator is there to help.
Lent is a good time to let our guard down and embrace our dependence on the one who protects us. It’s also a good time to reflect on how we can embody Jesus’ selfless nature, for the benefit of others and His kingdom.
So that we may be one.