Jesus’ prayer for his disciples continues in today’s gospel and I just love that Jesus models intercessory prayer for us. It is one of my greatest joys and blessings to pray for my friends and family and for anyone that asks. I never know if I’m doing it correctly, but I love the gift of presenting people’s hearts to God and the thought that someone might do that for me as well always touches me deeply. I know we have probably all experienced a strengthening or fortification when we are aware that people have been praying for us especially during those times when we simply don’t have the strength to pray ourselves. Just imagine Jesus praying for you!! How amazing is that? Today, Jesus asks the Father to keep his beloveds in His name…I Am. What does being kept in I Am look like? I always go back to Psalm 41:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” I think surrendering my will and letting God be God is a good place to start. Knowing who God says I am is a good next step, because He has given each one of us a name and that name is holy because it comes from the Father. What does God call you? Who does He say you are? Sit with these questions and listen for that still small voice to tell you.
Jesus goes on to pray that they will share his joy completely. How beautiful to pray for each other’s complete joy in Jesus. He asks specifically for protection against the Evil One and again, what a great prayer to pray over our loved ones. The fact of the matter is that we do indeed live in this world so we need to guard against it always remembering that we belong to another world. Let’s pray for special protection for one another today. Lastly, Jesus consecrates them in the truth. We are made holy in the truth and the truth shall set us free. The truth is that God is all good, all holy, all loving, all mercy, all forgiving, and all over us. We belong to Him and He belongs to us. That belonging is the truth that we have been consecrated in. Let’s embrace that today.
The other day I was leading a worship service with my memory care sweethearts and I asked them if I could pray for them. So I went around the room and laid hands on each one. When I was done I was prompted to ask them if they would pray for me and they practically jumped out of their seats with an enthusiastic yes! There’s no actual jumping in memory care by the way because that would dangerous. My friend Edith, whose first language is Spanish, said the prayer in Spanish and several of them laid hands on me while she prayed. It might have been the sweetest blessing I’ve ever received and the intercession of my sweethearts in that moment fell like honey on the lips of God. Imagine your intercession falling like honey on the lips of God because He loves loves loves it when we take care of each other. Jesus teaches us how to pray for one another today: Keep them in the name of God-I Am, may their joy be complete, protect them from evil, show them their belonging, and consecrate them in truth. Let’s pray for one another today the way Jesus does. It is well with my soul.
Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr
Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr
Lectionary: 299
Reading 1 ACTS 20:28-38
At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:
"Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God
that he acquired with his own Blood.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,
and they will not spare the flock.
And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth
to draw the disciples away after them.
So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone's silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
When he had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.
"Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God
that he acquired with his own Blood.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,
and they will not spare the flock.
And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth
to draw the disciples away after them.
So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone's silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
When he had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.
Responsorial Psalm PS 68:29-30, 33-35A, 35BC-36AB
R.(33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Show forth, O God, your power,
the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
let the kings bring you gifts.
R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
“Confess the power of God!”
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Over Israel is his majesty;
his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Show forth, O God, your power,
the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
let the kings bring you gifts.
R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
“Confess the power of God!”
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Over Israel is his majesty;
his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Allelluia SEE JN 17:17B, 17A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN 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.
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."
"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.
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."
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