Eyes To Heaven

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.
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.”
John 17:20-26 (NAB)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father these many prayers Jesus prayed on our behalf and for you reveals so much love. It really is all about love isn't it. When all else failed it was love that spoke the loudest. It's something we all crave in our lives. The simplicity of being loved for who we are. That's how you want to be loved by us, isn't it. With simple hearts that don't put on airs. A love that encompasses everyone, not just a select few. That's why you gave us Jesus, to show us the depths of love we try so hard to understand. For those who are callous toward others often see the beauty of love in the words, in the actions and the hearts of those who are united to you. Being truly in love makes us glow and when we are deeply in love with you it shines brightly. Jesus shone like that because he loved you so much that you gave us to him to take care of for you. Your gift to him, we are then Jesus' treasure. Who would have thought that we are treasures to the Divine Family.

Choices

Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John: And if you will receive it, he is Elias that is to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 11:11-15 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father we all have choices to make in life. Whether or not to follow you is pretty much cut and dry isn't it. But the wisest one is to follow you Dear God and make the kingdom of heaven our destination. You sent John the Baptist to preach repentance and we too if we hear the message of the Gospel will repent and make straight our paths. The choices aren't always what we want out of life but when we choose to make God's will our own, then it's a choice that is made wisely, to follow His path and all that he stands for. Hasn't heaven suffered enough violence from us denying God's existence. So if we truly have ears then it's time we start listening. Fight for God's kingdom, restore it in your lives remove the sins that place us farther away from Him, put Him first in your lives not your own desires. May we come to hear the Gospel message and realize that we need to mend our ways as John the Baptist had preached. Amen