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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider I pray not only for these

I pray not only for these

Published Jun 5, 2025 12:01 am  |  Updated Jun 4, 2025 05:03 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

It is natural for us to pray for people who are close to us: our family members, relatives, and friends. But it is also good to widen the scope of our prayers to include even those who are outside of our familial circles.

Jesus, in the same priestly prayer in John 17, also prays for those who will believe because of (the work of) his disciples. And he prays for the same unity he desires for his close friends. There are so many needs of the world today, and so many intentions to pray for.

Keep track of what is happening in other places so you can include them in your prayers. No matter how seemingly far or distant you are from those people in need, certainly your prayers can reach God. We are citizens not just of our own city or country, but of the world. We belong to the one family of God.

Let us cultivate the habit of reaching out to others, becoming involved in their hopes and aspirations, even if only through prayer. As English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson said, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.

First Reading • Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 30

Wishing to determine the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the commander freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.

Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst and take him into the compound. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 16 “Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.” or “Alleluia.”

Gospel • John 17:20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.

And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.

Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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