"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."

Our scheduled readings can be found by clicking on John 17:6-19

In preparation for his crucifixion and death, Jesus prays for his disciples…for us. This being the last hSunday in Easter, his prayer is very specific in that the requests are for those of us who have bonded with Him, and remain in the world.

And though these words are in the form of a prayer of intercession, because they are requests from the Word made flesh, from the Son sent from the Father, and on behalf of those who are the Father's, they have the weight and substance of Jesus' declaring his estate / his blessing - the "goods" his followers will inherit after his death. They are:

• Jesus is honored (glorified) in us
• We are protected so that we may be one as God and Jesus are one
• We are guarded from ever being lost
• Jesus' joy is made complete in us
• God's word is given to us
• We are protected from the evil one
• We belong to God and not to this world
• We are truthfully and truly set apart and sanctified
• We receive the mandate / mission / purpose that Jesus had - we are sent into the world because God so loves the world
• For our sakes, Jesus sanctifies himself. That is, sets himself apart / dedicates himself wholly for God's purpose of loving the world  David Ewart, www.holytextures.com.