JESUS PRAYS FOR US—HIS CHURCH
Introduction
>>>This Introduction is from WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER, as at www.vaticannews.va)<<<
I call everyone to live the joy of mission by witnessing to the Gospel in the environments in which each one lives and works. At the same time, we are called to support with love, concrete help and prayer, the missionaries who have gone to proclaim Christ to those who do not yet know him. I also mention that it is my intention to promote an Extraordinary Missionary Month in October 2019, with the aim of fostering ardour in the Church’s ‘ad gentes’ evangelizing activity. (Angelus, 22 october 2017)
Collect
Graciously hear our supplications, O Lord,
so that we, who believe that the Saviour of the human race
is with you in your glory,
may experience, as he promised,
until the end of the world,
his abiding presence among us.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Acts 1:12-14
The apostles all joined in continuous prayer
After Jesus was taken up into heaven the apostles went back from the Mount of Olives, as it is called, to Jerusalem, a short distance away, no more than a sabbath walk; and when they reached the city they went to the upper room where they were staying; there were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude son of James. All these joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 26(27):1,4,7-8
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Or Alleluia!
The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I shrink? R.
There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord,
all the days of my life,
to savour the sweetness of the Lord,
to behold his temple. R.
O Lord, hear my voice when I call;
have mercy and answer.
Of you my heart has spoken:
‘Seek his face.’ R.
Second reading: 1 Peter 4:13-16
It is a blessing for you when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ
Beloved: If you can have some share in the sufferings of Christ, be glad, because you will enjoy a much greater gladness when his glory is revealed. It is a blessing for you when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ, because it means that you have the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God resting on you. None of you should ever deserve to suffer for being a murderer, a thief, a criminal or an informer; but if anyone of you should suffer for being a Christian, then he is not to be ashamed of it; he should thank God that he has been called one.
Gospel Acclamation: cf.John14:18
Alleluia, alleluia!
I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord;
I will come back to you,
and your hearts will be full of joy.
Alleluia!
Gospel: John 17:1-11
Father, it is time for you to glorify me
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: ‘Father, the hour has come: glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you; and, through the power over all mankind that you have given him, let him give eternal life to all those you have entrusted to him. And eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do. Now, Father, it is time for you to glorify me with that glory I had with you before ever the world was. I have made your name known to the men you took from the world to give me. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now at last they know that all you have given me comes indeed from you; for I have given them the teaching you gave to me, and they have truly accepted this, that I came from you, and have believed that it was you who sent me. I pray for them; I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they belong to you: all I have is yours and all you have is mine, and in them I am glorified. I am not in the world any longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, the prayers of your faithful
with the sacrificial offerings,
that through these acts of devotedness
we may pass over to the glory of heaven.
Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: John 17: 22
Father, I pray that they may be one
as we also are one, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
Hear us, O God our Saviour,
and grant us confidence,
that through these sacred mysteries
there will be accomplished in the body of the whole Church
what has already come to pass in Christ her Head.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Commentary
>>>> I love this simple and short reflection on the Gospel of today from loyolapress.com. Taste it and remain blessed<<<<
Today’s reading is a prayer, which appears at the conclusion of Jesus’ Last Supper discourse. At the end of the prayer, Jesus is arrested in the garden. The prayer might be read as His final commendation of himself to the Father. In the prayer, Jesus also expresses care and concern for his disciples.
This prayer reaffirms the complete union between Jesus and the Father. Throughout John’s Gospel, He has been presented as the Word, who pre-existed with the Father and was sent to do the Father’s work on earth. In this prayer we learn that His life and ministry have been directed toward one purpose, revealing the Father. When this work is accomplished, Jesus is to return to the Father to be glorified. Regardless of what happens to Him, in John’s Gospel, Jesus and the Father are in charge. Even in the description of His death, Jesus does not simply die but instead hands over his spirit.
In today’s Gospel we also note the distinction found in John’s Gospel between the world and the disciples. The disciples are in the world, but they are separate from it because they have been given to Jesus. They are chosen from the world to be in service to the world for its salvation. This salvation has been accomplished in Jesus because He has revealed the Father to the world, but the disciples will be sent by Him to make both the Father and Jesus known to the world. Indeed, Jesus’ prayer is for the disciples’ work in the world.
(cf. www.loyolapress.com)
Blessings
The great concern Jesus has for us, today’s disciples of his, he formulated into his “priestly prayer” for his followers well-being, faithfulness and unity. Are we concerned about the unity of the Church everywhere in the world? Please work towards it and may Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!