Consecrate them in Truth
The Gospel today presents the middle part of the Jesus' high priestly prayer which centres on the separation of the followers of Jesus from the world. He prays that they may remain One as Father and Him are one. Jesus has given them his Word and prays that they may remain uncontaminated by the world and the Evil One. This part justifies the title ‘High Priestly Prayer’ because the priestly function involves sanctifying others. Here Jesus speaks of sanctifying himself, so that his followers may not only be protected from the Evil One, but also may be sanctified as he is sanctified. He prays that we should be sanctified/consecrated in truth. How? Simple. We allow the Word of the Father to consecrate us in truth. In other words, we allow God’s holy Word to engage us, challenge us, change us, call us from sin, point us to Heaven and transform every aspect of our lives. God’s Word is the Truth, and we will become holy if we are transformed by this Truth.
There are three aspects we can Reflect on in this Gospel and from first reading. Firstly is Jesus' prayer that those whom He has gathered may remain One. Jesus was praying for unity among all his disciples and the whole Church. This unity should be based on the fact that Jesus and His Father are one and are united. What was to keep that unity among them? They were to remain devoted to the word of God and not to be led astray by the world. By the world Jesus means that which is contrary to God's will.
As the church of Christ, we have to keep this unity too, otherwise we become Christians by name. The only secret to keep this unity is to heed to Jesus' teaching and practicing Christian values summarised by love. We should always strive to promote unity not only in our church but also with other denominations. This unity is not excluded from our families, places of work, our communities and other human aspects. Paul in first readings warns us that there are wolves which will come to break this unity and so we have to be aware of them and conquer them by our unity.
The second aspect is Jesus' prayer for protection from the Evil one. This is a powerful prayer for us. Brethren, the devil is real and present and so we need divine protection. It comes to us with enticing things which can easily take us astray leaving God aside. How are we to be protected from Evil one? By being consecrated in Truth, which is the word of God. Brethren if we heed to the word of God, it's teachings and the teachings of the church which is only truth, the Evil one cannot take us astray unless we choose to. Paul warns us again that the Evil one or wolves will not have mercy on us and so we have to watch, pray and seek divine protection so that we remain firm in faith.
Thirdly is to consecrate them in truth. To Consecrate comes from a Greek word which means to 'make holy' or to 'set apart for God' When we are consecrated in truth, we must be able to stand for that truth. Today’s liturgy is a memorial to an early witness (in Greek, “martyr”) to the truth of Jesus Christ. St. Justin is so well known by his witness that he is often referred to as “St. Justin Martyr.” In the days of Justin, the consequence of witnessing to the truth was severe persecution, often culminating in making a choice to either renounce Our Lord and Savior, who is “The Way, the Truth, and the Life,” or to offer one’s earthly life with the hope of an eternal reward in Heaven. How could such courage ever be mustered? Jesus prayed to the Father that every one of his followers, and us, would be “consecrated in the truth.” He then proclaimed that he would consecrate himself for each of us so that we could remain in the truth. His Passion, death, and Resurrection make it possible for us to have this audacious hope! He left us his Holy Spirit to guide us in all truth (John 16:13) and to provide us with the gift of wisdom. Lord, let me graciously accept this unmerited gift from you, and, like the philosopher (in Greek, “lover of wisdom”) St. Justin Martyr, let me proclaim the truth of the Gospel to those whom I encounter today.
Reflect today on Jesus' prayer for us. How much are you keeping unity right away from your family to the world level? How much are you taken away by the world leaving the word of God aside? How much effort are you putting in fighting the Evil? Spend some time in silence and pray for the Graces you need to remain united to Jesus.
Let us Pray.
Lord Jesus may we recognise daily the need for one another as Christians and the need for you God as the author and sustainer of our lives. Amen
Blessed Easter Season and don't forget to pray Novena to the Holy Spirit
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