The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 20:28-38
Psalm 68:29-30,33-36
John 17:11-19

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"I ask you not to remove them from the world. . ."

Today we hear yet another small portion of one of the most powerful and wonderful prayers in the Bible. We are blessed by Jesus' words as He calls upon the Father to bless us.

But one thing I find most interesting about this prayer is the caveat quoted in the line above. Throughout the ages many saints have tried to remove themselves from the world. What does that mean? Often, it is misinterpreted as meaning that they hated the world and wanted nothing to do with it. But I prefer to think of it as St. John of the Cross explains it. You do not hate the world, but you avoid attachment to it.

Jesus offers that to us in the prayer. We are to remain here as beacons and signals for those lost in the darkness of the world. Yet while we are in the world we are to be One, as Jesus in God is One, and we are to be as that same One. We are called to love God so intently that our attention does not stray to things of the world. Yet, we are to remain in the world, and not despise it (after all, God called the earth and the living things within it "good" and one could ask for no higher commendation). We are to be part of the world, even as we are set apart. We are to serve as living examples, as beacons of thoughtfulness and love.

But before we become too self-important, let us remember why we are here. Jesus prayed: "I pray not only for these, but also for those who through their teaching will come to believe in me."

Our duty, and our great privilege while we live as God's people on earth is to help fulfill Jesus' prayer.

- JuandelaCruz (1994)

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