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Apr
24

Gospel of John 17, Jesus Prays to the Father!

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Day 90, John 17

Good Day Everyone and CONGRATULTIONS on 90 DAYS WITH JESUS in THE GOSPEL!!!!!!!!!!

WOW what an amazing journey this has been thus far!  We are going to keep going to finish St. John’s Gospel account on the feast of St. Catherine of Siena one of my patron saints!!!!

If you have the book “Faith on Fire” you will see on the back cover her quote that I turned into the mantra and dedicated all this fired up Catholics work to living out St. Catherine’s words…

… which I am sure are in response to Jesus’ word in Luke 12:49

“I have come to set the world on fire and how I wish it was already blazing.”

St. Catherine said… “When we are whom we are called to be we will set the world ablaze”

My brothers and sisters we are truly called to be fully CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS and the sooner you and I live out this call daily and are truly on FIRE with the Holy Spirit – the world will catch on!

SO don’t let your hearts be troubled with what is going on in the world –we are to be in the world but not of the world — pray for the world but also pray that we will all have the faith on fire that is much needed in the world –

Every day wasted in worry does not help anyone — especially the world!  The world needs you ON FIRE in the HOLY SPIRIT!

So we will read and pray this Chapter 17 today and tomorrow Sunday because it is so important and then we will have chapter 18, 19, 20, 21 which will end on St. Catherine of Siena’s feast day!

I am so fired up with the way this is going and that God has blessed this work and I pray that all of your are being fed and nourished and transformed by this work we have all joined in on together!

So let’s get into Chapter 17!!!  This is my favorite number — and one that God uses to confirm and affirm me — so what a suprise that it is so important in all the Gospel accounts!

Take a minute with me to just think about the fact that this is the only chapter in the Gospel that is a full Prayer of Jesus to God the Father -

- and it is the only time in the Gospel that we see Jesus letting everyone in on His prayer to the Father — these are His last words that they hear him speak before Jesus is arrested by Judas and the soldiers… (in John’s Gospel account)

I MEAN THIS IS HUGE in Chapter 17!!!  Always remember this chapter — I want to print it out and hang it up and pray it –

This was prime time look into the relationship of God the Father and Son — this is better than all the reality shows on TV — the inside look into the last words in Prayer for all the Apostles to hear — I think every priest should read and pray this daily!!!   And the religious and laity too!

 That is why we will take this weekend and really meditate and contemplate this PRAYER!

I see three intimate points here:

  1. Eternal Life
  2. One in the Name
  3. Consecrate Us in Truth

1- Eternal Life

Jesus starts off His prayer asking to Glorify the Father the same way that the Father gave authority to the Son so that He may give Eternal Life to all whom the Father had given Him!

 Then we see Jesus define eternal life — for the Father — NO not for the Father — to the Father for OUR BENEFIT!

This is eternal life =

“That they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. 

=== so you can see here what comes to mind the old Catechism question — why did God create me… TO KNOW HIM… then… to love Him and serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him in the next!

continued..

I glorified you on earh by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do…

then

Now Glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.”

WOW there it is!!!  Before the world began Jesus was with the Father.  Our faith doesn’t just make things up –

– it is all found in Divine Revelation – the Sacred Scriptures and Sacred Tradition – written and oral handing down of truth!

 2- One in the Name

Jesus goes on to pray to the Father about “the Name” that He had given the Son!

 Now we see Jesus speaking to the Father about all those that the Father had given to Jesus – in a way He is promoting them – testifying to the fact that they believed all that He had revealed to them…

 Can you imagine how emotional this might have been — Here is Jesus speaking on behalf of the disciples – letting them truly see that God the Father had chosen them – that they truly belong to Him –

 Then Jesus says that He protected them in “YOUR Name that YOU gave me”

 And that He guarded them – and none of them were lost except one –  “the son of destruction” in order that the scripture might be fulfilled.

 WOW so they even spoke about Judas and how it had all been part of the fulfillment of the Word!

 Then Jesus asks the Father that as He is coming to Him to please keep them all in His name – that He has given to Jesus –

 So that they may be ONE – just as the Father and Son are ONE –

 WOW again!  So the NAME gives us protection – and makes us ONE in the Father and Son!

No wonder there is so much power in the NAME of JESUS — much more than we can even imagine!

 This was the Father’s name that He gave to the SON…. JESUS — Savior!

 So the Apostles hear about Eternal life, and the NAME…

3- Consecrate Us in Truth

 Now here is the third call — to Holiness!  Consecrate us in the TRUTH!

Jesus prays to the Father all about the world — and listen up my brothers and sisters!!

YOU DON”T THINK GOD KNOWS and JESUS knows what is happening in the world?

OF COURSE HE DOES!!  HE’s not on some tropical island or asleep while were are down here praying — sometimes I think we pray like God has no clue!!!  HE KNOWS EVERYTHING!

JESUS speaks to the Father in the world like this — so that Our JOY may be complete!

Since He knows that we don’t belong to the world but must live in the world and He wants our Joy to be complete He says to the Father…

in order that we be kept from the evil one…

“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.”

 Isn’t that amazing that Jesus asks for us to be consecrated in HIM – truth itself!

And that He doesn’t ask for anything that He would not do!

 He is willing to consecrate Himself for us!

 What does consecrate mean?  Set a part – for a purpose!

 For us it is to be HOLY as the Father is Holy and the Son is too!

 To be apart from the world but still live in the world we have to be consecrated!

 So even thought we might not be a priest, a religious or deacon – or even a third order

Lay person…

 WE ARE ALL CALLED to be CONSECRATED!!!  IN TRUTH!  IN JESUS!

 This is how we conquer the world through Jesus Christ!

 Consecrate yourself each day in JESUS – and as well call on the Blessed Mother and consecrate your eyes your mind your ears your heart – your whole self!

We were told here by Jesus that He consecrated Himself for us and that He asks that the Father will consecrate us!  Good stuff and Good news!

 Let us share on this… and really take time with this blessed Chapter this weekend!

 God bless!

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  • Anonymous

    i especially love the thought that we are in the world but not of the world. how sad those who are in the world and of the world look and sound….so lost. how blessed we are for no reason of our own – just Jesus’s gift and grace.

    it is just so awesome.

  • Ann

    Day 90, this is huge, thanks Marie for making this site possible. I thank Jesus for the new work He started in each one of us because of the Word spoken here.
    One time Howard and I were driving along a road and I was thinking of a sermon I had heard from TDJakes on the power of the name of Jesus and I was just saying the name of Jesus over and over and a car jumped out directly in front of us from a side road and again I said out loud the name of Jesus and we were off the road and managed to avoid an accident by inches. There is power in the Name of Jesus! TYL

  • Anonymous

    ann, i always remember you and howard. my conversion came from howard’s t-shirt with the pic of Jesus knocking at the door. of course, marie and her prayer group had been praying for me, but i feel that howard’s t-shirt was my catalyst. i wish i could find that shirt so i could bring people in.

    God bless you and hope to see you soon.

  • marionraffa

    i especially love the thought that we are in the world but not of the world. how sad those who are in the world and of the world look and sound….so lost. how blessed we are for no reason of our own – just Jesus's gift and grace.

    it is just so awesome.

  • Anonymous

    Ann, I second that HUGE thanks to you Marie for this site. I have come to depend on this site and late as I was to come, I am more so very grateful to Marie for herr devotion and dedication and discipline to carry this to fruition …for us!!!
    Your precious work has truly been an instrument to set my heart ablaze in His word!
    I have been praying about something and your blog today touches upon it….”none were lost except one, the son of destruction.” I had an interesting discussion w a christian protestant loved one, and he challenged me about the existence of free will. His argument was compelling and based upon his interpretation of scripture and a three year study he says, to finally convict him that God actually creates some souls for hell…and he quotes this very scripture passage as corroboration. This interpretation pained my heart to the core. All I could say in response was that our God is very loving and merciful and He created us in His image and that His Divine Will is for all of us to be with him in heaven…and while God did create hell, a place to put the separated angels, He also created us with the gift of free will to choose or reject Him. Again, his compelling response was that God is a Just judge and not everyone is given the grace. I was almost tempted to counter with the supremely loving attribute of the Mercy of God,which is first before His Judgement… however I felt I wouldve been guilty of ” tit for a tat” arguing and was more interested in finding common unifying ground. We both agreed that faith is a gift of God and not all are given the same amount…. however I was left troubled and continue to pray about this. Needless to say, after reading today’s blog the Holy Spirit kicked my can into action to invite him to join this blog. So Im asking prayers for Dom…that he might join in and share his heart to contribute here with us. Jesus , I trust in YOU!
    Also, I d shared about our trip to the Ukranian Cathedral to visit the shroud, and he said that he has a friend who is eastern rite and that they do not recognize the Pope? I wasnt sure about that one. However, the Principal , teachers and the whole St Ignatius school went to visit the Ukranian Cathedral last friday to venerate the Shroud and what a wonderful feedback Ive gotten from some of the students! The priests were so very kind and hospitable to our school children and treated them to pizza and gave the relics of St Josephat. (sp?)!! What wonderful brothers and sisters in faith we have all throughout our world! Thank you JEsus and please continue to cover us in your Most Precious Blood! Mary, Mother of the Most precious blood save all the children of the world!

  • Ann

    Day 90, this is huge, thanks Marie for making this site possible. I thank Jesus for the new work He started in each one of us because of the Word spoken here.
    One time Howard and I were driving along a road and I was thinking of a sermon I had heard from TDJakes on the power of the name of Jesus and I was just saying the name of Jesus over and over and a car jumped out directly in front of us from a side road and again I said out loud the name of Jesus and we were off the road and managed to avoid an accident by inches. There is power in the Name of Jesus! TYL

  • marionraffa

    ann, i always remember you and howard. my conversion came from howard's t-shirt with the pic of Jesus knocking at the door. of course, marie and her prayer group had been praying for me, but i feel that howard's t-shirt was my catalyst. i wish i could find that shirt so i could bring people in.

    God bless you and hope to see you soon.

  • PBoJ

    Ann, I second that HUGE thanks to you Marie for this site. I have come to depend on this site and late as I was to come, I am more so very grateful to Marie for herr devotion and dedication and discipline to carry this to fruition …for us!!!
    Your precious work has truly been an instrument to set my heart ablaze in His word!
    I have been praying about something and your blog today touches upon it….”none were lost except one, the son of destruction.” I had an interesting discussion w a christian protestant loved one, and he challenged me about the existence of free will. His argument was compelling and based upon his interpretation of scripture and a three year study he says, to finally convict him that God actually creates some souls for hell…and he quotes this very scripture passage as corroboration. This interpretation pained my heart to the core. All I could say in response was that our God is very loving and merciful and He created us in His image and that His Divine Will is for all of us to be with him in heaven…and while God did create hell, a place to put the separated angels, He also created us with the gift of free will to choose or reject Him. Again, his compelling response was that God is a Just judge and not everyone is given the grace. I was almost tempted to counter with the supremely loving attribute of the Mercy of God,which is first before His Judgement… however I felt I wouldve been guilty of ” tit for a tat” arguing and was more interested in finding common unifying ground. We both agreed that faith is a gift of God and not all are given the same amount…. however I was left troubled and continue to pray about this. Needless to say, after reading today's blog the Holy Spirit kicked my can into action to invite him to join this blog. So Im asking prayers for Dom…that he might join in and share his heart to contribute here with us. Jesus , I trust in YOU!
    Also, I d shared about our trip to the Ukranian Cathedral to visit the shroud, and he said that he has a friend who is eastern rite and that they do not recognize the Pope? I wasnt sure about that one. However, the Principal , teachers and the whole St Ignatius school went to visit the Ukranian Cathedral last friday to venerate the Shroud and what a wonderful feedback Ive gotten from some of the students! The priests were so very kind and hospitable to our school children and treated them to pizza and gave the relics of St Josephat. (sp?)!! What wonderful brothers and sisters in faith we have all throughout our world! Thank you JEsus and please continue to cover us in your Most Precious Blood! Mary, Mother of the Most precious blood save all the children of the world!

  • Anonymous

    Hi< Marie thanks so much for englightening me about these chapters 16 and 17. I just might repeat what you already have said, but this is whast I get from chapter 16, Jesus is speaking about the Father and the advocate who is to come but only when I leave. Then Jesus will send him to them and when he comes he will convict the world about sin and righteousness and condemation because the do not believe in me and Jesus will be comdemned. But when the Advocate comes whichHe calls "Spirit of Truth and will guide you to all truth. Whatevere you ask the Father in my nameHe will give you.whooooo!!!
    Chapter 17, Jesus prays to the Father for His disciples. Jesus states " I pray for them. Well thsi is so Awesome to me!!!!!!!whooooo Jesus prays for the ones you have given me, because they are yours. WOW!!!!! Everthing of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine and I have been glorified in them. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that theymay be one just as we are. Consecrate them in truth!!!!!!! I don't want to repeat everything that is in this chapter is so awesome. Thanks again for all your insight.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Thank you and God bless you — Jesus is alive in His Word and I pray in all of us who read and share this!
    We will pray that Dom Joins us –

    We will have to let him know that the Ukranian Catholic Church MOST DEFINITELY is obedient and LOVES the POPE — don’t let Msgr Myron hear that anyone was thinking they were not! They are an Eastern Rite I believe — very very beautiful! at the Catholic Conference this past weekend — We celebrated the Ukranian Mass — perfectly OK for we Roman – Western Catholics to do as it is also ok for them to join us — all beautiful!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Amen Sister and so true about the NAME of JESUS — may we be attentive to pray and say it often!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Amen — may we also be joyful and remember how blessed we are!!! May we live out the rest of our lives as people who are not worthy but worth it for Jesus to die for!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Thank you Mary for being with us here — it would not be the same with out you! You’ve got the Holy Spirit girlfriend!

  • marylatini

    Hi< Marie thanks so much for englightening me about these chapters 16 and 17. I just might repeat what you already have said, but this is whast I get from chapter 16, Jesus is speaking about the Father and the advocate who is to come but only when I leave. Then Jesus will send him to them and when he comes he will convict the world about sin and righteousness and condemation because the do not believe in me and Jesus will be comdemned. But when the Advocate comes whichHe calls “Spirit of Truth and will guide you to all truth. Whatevere you ask the Father in my nameHe will give you.whooooo!!!
    Chapter 17, Jesus prays to the Father for His disciples. Jesus states ” I pray for them. Well thsi is so Awesome to me!!!!!!!whooooo Jesus prays for the ones you have given me, because they are yours. WOW!!!!! Everthing of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine and I have been glorified in them. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that theymay be one just as we are. Consecrate them in truth!!!!!!! I don't want to repeat everything that is in this chapter is so awesome. Thanks again for all your insight.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Thank you and God bless you — Jesus is alive in His Word and I pray in all of us who read and share this!
    We will pray that Dom Joins us –

    We will have to let him know that the Ukranian Catholic Church MOST DEFINITELY is obedient and LOVES the POPE — don't let Msgr Myron hear that anyone was thinking they were not! They are an Eastern Rite I believe — very very beautiful! at the Catholic Conference this past weekend — We celebrated the Ukranian Mass — perfectly OK for we Roman – Western Catholics to do as it is also ok for them to join us — all beautiful!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Amen Sister and so true about the NAME of JESUS — may we be attentive to pray and say it often!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Amen — may we also be joyful and remember how blessed we are!!! May we live out the rest of our lives as people who are not worthy but worth it for Jesus to die for!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Thank you Mary for being with us here — it would not be the same with out you! You've got the Holy Spirit girlfriend!