Today's Gospel

Can You Imagine the Joy?

Welcome back to Radical & Relevant where each day we spend a few moments to read the Gospel together, to reflect on the Gospel, allow the Holy Spirit to guide us towards a word, a phrase, or an idea that takes root in our heart, that inspires our mind or captures our imagination so that we can go out into the world and live the Gospel more fully today. Today's reading comes from the Gospel of John 17:11b-19. "Looking up to heaven, Jesus said, 'Holy Father, keep them in your name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to thee and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them my word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that they should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in truth. Your word is truth. As you did send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake, I consecrate myself that they also may be consecrated in truth.'"

It's a powerful reading. There's a lot there again. Is there a word or phrase, idea that jumps out at you? First one that jumped out at me was this idea of having joy fulfilled. And Jesus said, "that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves." Imagine, okay? Just imagine for a moment having the joy of Christ, complete, undiluted. Imagine that joy, probably a burst of joy. I don't know what would happen to us, but that's what he wants for us. He wants his joy to be fulfilled in us. It's a beautiful prayer, isn't it? You think about what do you want for your kids? People say, "I just want my kids to be happy." No. No. No. No. We want more than that. This is a beautiful prayer, the desire of the heart of Jesus for you, that his joy be fulfilled in you. It's astounding. The other thing that got my attention was Jesus praying. This is a deep prayer. This is known as prayer. This is a powerful prayer. He's praying to the Father. "Don't take them out of the world, Father," He's saying, "but keep them from the evil one. Keep them from the evil one." We don't talk much about evil, right? But I tell the team here at Dynamic Catholic, sometimes, not often, but we're trying to do good things here. It's important to understand that every evil force on the planet hates what we're doing here. There are evil forces on the planet, and those evil forces hate what we're doing here. And so you can expect some friction. You can expect some resistance. You can expect the unexpected. And you have to be mindful of that. But Jesus is praying here. "Keep us from the evil one." And then the last part that struck me was the consecration because we've just done these consecration books, the 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory and 33 Days to Divine Mercy. And Jesus is consecrating Himself here. But here was the prayer. Before the consecration, here was the prayer. Jesus said, "Sanctify them in truth. Your word is truth." That's what we're doing here each day, right, taking a few minutes each day so that God can sanctify us in truth. His Word is truth. It's a beautiful prayer. Then he says, "And for their sake, not for my sake, for their sake, I consecrate myself." What does Jesus consecrate Himself to? Consecrates Himself to truth. "I consecrate myself that they also may be consecrated in truth." Every day, there's just so much. I hope you found your word, phrase, or idea to reflect on today, to meditate on throughout your day. It's great being with you. Have a great day. And remember, Be Bold. Be Catholic.