A Beautiful Prayer

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.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,
and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
except the son of destruction,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you.
I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
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.”
John 17:11b-19 (NAB)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father we have read so many accounts on behalf of your love for us. Today we have a prayer of deep love for us and for you. A prayer of consecration by your Son. It is the beauty of Jesus' protection in this prayer against the evil one that speaks just as loudly. Who in this world has not been touched by Jesus' prayers and deliverance from sin in their need to repent. How often do we call out Jesus' name when we feel out of control with our lives. Not at peace. Jesus brings us peace, he frees us from evil, he restores truth in our lives. Many have stopped believing in this truth and began believing in the world. Does that truth reveal the depths of how much we rely on the world rather than Jesus when we no longer use the sacrament of penance. It is there where we find freedom from sin and evil, it is there where we begin our journey back to Jesus and to you dear Father. Let our hearts open to the love of God and his son Jesus, let us be cleaned of sin and find the consecration that belongs to our hearts.

Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:6-14

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father your Son is revealed to us as "The Way, the Truth, and the Life," by his own words. How many times he has said that you and he are one. And how often he mentions to us to go through him and believe. Because if we see Him we see you and when we know Jesus we also know you. Today, I ask in faith, in Jesus name, for the conversion of hardened hearts. I pray for a renewal of faith in the World. May today be a day where many know the love of your heart. Amen

(from the archives)

Pointing The Way

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.”
Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:1-6 (NAB)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father a scene comes to mind about working. While taking care of what has to be done on the job, a fellow worker comes by and says, "that's not the way to go, here let me show you." From this a person is guided in a job, shown how to go. We have the same when we go to school, we're shown the path that can lead to success. There are so many things that can lead us, ranging from books that teach us how to build, garden, sew, cook, you name it and you might find it. We have leaders that try to lead us on the right path. The scenarios could go on and on as a case in point. The Gospel is the right path to follow for all our daily living needs. But if you want to get to know God, then following the path that brings us to Jesus will most certainly get us to God. Dear Father it is such a wonderful way to get to you through your Son. He is the go between and a delightful way. There are so many things in this life that point the way to happiness, but none can beat Jesus on the list he is the way, the truth and the life.

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.”
Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:1-6

Prayer

Dear Father your son not only points out how we are to get to you but he tells us also. That no one can get to you except through him. It's a delight to know that Jesus is the way, he is the truth and most of all he is the life for us to live. How honored we are to be followers of your son, because we know you and see you through him. What a blessing to know too that when we follow Jesus to get to you, he will also come to get us to make a place for us in your dwelling place. Where he personally prepares a place for us. May our hearts beat with love for your son and for you. May our lives be lived following Jesus for he really is the "Way, the Truth, and the Life." No life should be lived without Him in it. Amen