Consecrate them in the truth

REFLECTIONS TODAY Today’s Gospel is the second part of Jesus’ prayer found in John 17. He is praying for the welfare of his disciples while they are still in the world. He prays for their protection from the evil one. In the last verse of the preceding chapter, Jesus cautions his disciples that they will have trouble in the world, but they need not be afraid because he already conquered the world (Jn 16:33). In today’s Gospel, he prays for the consecration of his disciples in the truth. The Greek imperative is hagíason, which is from hagíazō, “I sanctify.” What is the implication of being consecrated in the truth? Being sanctified in the truth gives Jesus’ followers the serenity even amidst troubles. When in trouble, we can easily set the truth aside; then, the serenity worthy of a disciple of Jesus is lost. How do we face the troubles of everyday life? Do we want to experience Jesus’ serenity? Are we willing to be sanctified in the truth? GOSPEL • JOHN 17:11b-19 Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. 18As 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.” SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.