John 17:1-11
1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
6 ”I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.
11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
" I am asking on behalf of those you gave me"
This Sunday follows the Ascension that was celebrated last Thursday.
Standing on the Mount of Olives at the ruined Church of the Ascension and overviewing the city of Jerusalem, seeing the area of the Last Supper and Pentecost, my thoughts are fixed on the Lord's Ascension. He was heading back home to where "He is sitting at the right hand of God" Mark 16:19.
We are used to seeing the Lord Jesus Christ prepare His disciples for the upcoming events in God's plan of salvation. As always, Jesus starts with a prayer, asking for those whom the Father gave Him. He "will not leave them as orphans" John 14:18. He will be no longer in the world, but they will remain in the world. "Protect them...so that they may be one as we are one" John 17:11.
What do we learn from the Ascension today?
Reading in depth, we may reflect on a few points, among many others, to continue following Jesus with more knowledge and love.
+ The ultimate aim of the Word's Incarnation is fulfilled. Through His teaching, actions, Passion, Crucifixion, death, Resurrection and apparitions to the disciples, He accomplishes the tasks that He came for. He offers His disciples a model of responsibility and commitment to their task that overcomes difficulties and impediments.
+ Achieve His targets with an obedient spirit to God's will, giving priority and primacy to love, faithfulness and respect of others' dignity. "Never repay anyone evil for evil...if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" Romans 12:17-18.
+ Pray together as the disciples did, together with the mother of Jesus. Ask for the Holy Spirit to inspire, advise, guide, protect and keep us on the path of the Way, the Truth and the Life.
+ Think about the limited life on earth and the life to come, where Jesus is going to prepare a place for those who respect and live His commandments (John 14:3).
+ We are invited to see Jesus' presence with eyes of faith, and to have our eyes fixed upon how to witness for Him wherever we are. He grants us a trust and an empowerment to be His signs and channels of peaceful reconciliation with God, our neighbor and the whole creation.
+ Like the disciples, it is time to realize that we have to accept Jesus as He is. He's not "my Jesus," or "our Jesus," who has to fulfill our earthly desires, but Jesus who commissions us to care for the proclamation of His Kingdom. "They asked Him, 'Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them, '...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, Galilee, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth'" Acts 1:6-8.
With the disciples, let us wait with confidence and prayer to receive the promised gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, who will infuse us with energy and courage to emulate the one we celebrate in His Ascension. May our faith be lived as lights for others to see the glory of God.