“Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.”

JOhn 17:3

John 17:1-11a

Reflection

Jesus prays to his Father, asking for him to be glorified. He acknowledges that everything came from the Father and now his disciples believe the Father sent Jesus. Jesus prays for the ones given him because they are both the Father’s and Jesus’.

Jesus and the Father are one. They glorify each other, and in so doing reveal themselves to us. Jesus says that eternal life is knowing the only true God – the beatific vision that awaits us in heaven. Through Christ, we have the opportunity to be united to God in this way, because of his passion, death, and resurrection.

Just as Jesus prays to his heavenly Father, we too must follow this example. Praying not only brings us closer to Christ, but gives us spiritual insight, confidence, comfort, joy, and peace. Jesus prays that all should know God – let us echo his prayer, asking to become holy and worthy of spending eternity face to face with our Creator.

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Saint of the Day

St. Theophilus of Corte: 1676 – 1740

St. Theophilus was a Franciscan priest who founded various retreat houses in Italy and was known for his preaching and missionary work. St. Theophilus of Corte, pray for us!