Reflection on the Gospel of John:20-26: Seventh Sunday of Easter, June 1, 2025
The Gospel of John 17:20-26
Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Let us Pray the Collect for The Seventh Sunday of Easter: O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Each Sunday we read a list of names that we have been asked to pray for due to many types of concerns. In today’s Gospel Jesus Prays to the Father for all of us and we didn’t have to ask Him to pray for us. He said: “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. This includes you and I and everyone no matter who they are. This is a powerful passage where Jesus prays for all believers, asking for unity among them, just as He is one with the Father. He expresses His desire for His followers to experience the same love that God has for Him and to be with Him in His glory. This prayer highlights Jesus’ deep love and concern for His disciples and future believers and underlines the importance of remaining united to one another in Christ. The Gospel also explains how love is possible. This love clearly cannot depend on feelings of attraction, desire, affection or even liking. It is a behavior-shaping attitude toward the world, which is both a gift we cannot manufacture and a choice to live into the promises of that gift that is already given. The gospel reading is also a prayer for unity. Jesus knew very well the importance of unity for His mission to be successful. There is perfect unity between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus also wants perfect unity between Him and His followers so that through this oneness, the world will know that God the Father indeed sent Him and that His Father loves all of us.
Let us Pray: Guide us in the path of discipleship, so that, as you have blessed us, we may be a blessing for others, bringing the promise of the kingdom near, by our words and deeds. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 