We reserved Jesus’ farewell discourse (John 14, 15, 16), and his farewell prayer (John 17) to be read for Paschaltide to prepare ourselves for the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost, though these chapters of John address events during Last Supper. During Holy Week, we moved from the narratives of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, foretelling betrayal of Judas, and denial of Peter (John 13:1-15 on Holy Thursday Lord’s Supper Memorial Mass; John 13:21-33, 36-38 on Holy Tuesday) to his arrest to death and burial (John 18:1-19:42 on Good Friday). And we read John 13:31-35 for Fifth Sunday of Paschaltide on Cycle C.
As we are now in the week between the Ascension of
the Lord and Pentecost, having completed reading from Jesus’ farewell discourse
yesterday (Monday of the Seventh Week of Paschaltide)(John 16:29-33), we are
reading Jesus’ farewell prayer (John 17:1-26), from today (Tuesday of the
Seventh Week of Paschaltide) to Thursday. Then, we reading from John 21:15-19
on Friday and from John 12:20-25 on Saturday before Pentecost.
Today’s Gospel Reading (John 17:1-11) makes up the
first portion of Jesus’ farewell prayer.
This prayer (John 17:1-26) is known as the high priestly prayer of Jesus
and as the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. According to John, he gave this
prayer on the night before his death, before his arrest to enter his intense
passion to die.
This high priestly farewell prayer of Jesus is intercessory, as well as, petitionary. First, Jesus asks the Father to glorify him for the work that he had done on earth, as commanded by Him, which was about to complete with his impending suffering and death, so that he may glorify him (John 17:1-5). Then, Jesus prayed for his disciples, whom he had given the words given to him by the Father, and whom he was to commission and send out in the world to continue and expand his work, which is the work of the Father (John 17:6-19). And finally, Jesus prayed for other believers, besides his disciples so that all believers are one with him, as he is one with the Father (John 17:20-26).
Throughout this prayer (John 17:1-26), you can see
what Jesus really wanted his disciples to know: his Christological and
Messianic identity rooted in his hypostatic union with the Father, for he is homoousion (consubstantial) with the
Father as reflected in the Nicene Creed and in John 10:30, 38; John
14:11;17:21). For them to believe this, Jesus gave his farewell discourse so
that they believe that though he came from the Father (was sent by Him)(John
7:28; 8:14,42; 13:3; 16:28; cf. John 3:16-17), the Father remained to be with
him (John 16:32; cf. John 8:29), before the coming of the hour for his
threefold glorification (his death, resurrection, and ascension) began.
First, Jesus acknowledged that the Father gave him
the authority over all people – people of all nations – to give eternal life to
them (John 17:2). Jesus’ authority, given by the Father, over all people on
earth, indicates that he is the King of the universe, as well as the Good
Shepherd for all people (John 10:1-18). And Jesus prayed to the Father that they
would come to know the Father, as they knew him as Christ set by Him, for
eternal life is given by him (John 17:3). This reflects Jesus’ Living Bread of Life
discourse (John 6:32-58).
Jesus had completed all his work on earth to bring
people come to know the Father through him, as he is the way to the Father, as
well as, the truth and the life (John 14:6-7), by his words in teaching and by
the signs performed by him, to bring the Father glory (John 17:4). So, he then
asked the Father to glorify in His presence (John 17:5).
Jesus’ petition to the Father for his glorification
is, of course, referring to what comes with the impending hour: his death
through suffering and resurrection to fulfill Isaiah 52:13-53:11 and his
ascension, with the earnest hope that more and more people would come to him
upon his death (John 12:32) so that more and more people would come to know
Him.
In praying for his disciples, Jesus acknowledged
that the Father entrusted him to reveal Him to them in his words, which are the
Spirit and Life (John 6:63; cf. Acts 1:2) and what keep them in him (John
15:7), so that they would obey the Father’s Word (John 17:7). He reported to
the Father that his disciples know that everything given to them by him was
given to him by Him, believing that he was sent to them by Him (John 17:7-10;
cf. John 16:14-15, 27-28).
As he reported to the Father that he had completed
his mission to reveal the Father to the disciples and making them believe that
he was sent by Him, giving them what the Father gave him, before his death
(John 17:6-10), then, Jesus made a petition to the Father to look after them
upon his departure from this world in His name and his name, just as he did to
them during his earthy ministry companionship – in the hope for their unity
(John 17:11). This hope of Jesus for his disciples to be one is reflected in
his instruction to remain as one in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to descend on
them (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5 ) and for his vision for one holy catholic
apostolic Church to grow as one body of Christ with many parts (John 17:20-23;
1 Corinthians 12:12-28).
So you see how much Jesus wanted us to be and remain
as one, upon having the Father revealed to us, through his words and signs?
In today’s First Reading (Acts 20:17-27), we see how
Paul wrapped up his third journey.
In yesterday’s First Reading (Acts 19:1-8), we read
how Paul augmented insufficient faith of Ephesians with the Holy Spirit in the
mighty name of Jesus, as he returned there on his third journey, after his
short visit there toward the end of his second journey. This time, Paul had
more time to work in Ephesus, a large city in Asia Minor.
As in the case with other cities, such as Pisidian
Antioch, Iconium, Corinth, as well as, Macedonia, though his mission work sure
made more new disciples, Paul also made more enemies, especially among diaspora
Jews in these cities and areas. Ephesus
was no exception. In fact, those who opposed Paul, in essence, those who were against
Jesus, instigated a riot, in blaming him for alleging that he was liable for the
idol worship silversmith business (Acts 19:23-40). While he was in Corinth,
Jews who did not want Paul to preach on Jesus, made a false accusation against
him, portraying him as a dangerous man to threaten the public safety (Acts
18:18-23). So, they complained it to Callio. But, being a wise Roman
administrator, he did not get involved in this Jewish matter. In Ephesus, a similar plot actually turned
into a serious social unrest: a riot.
Paul’s work in Ephesus was quite eventful. Ephesus
was a major city for worshiping Artemis (Diana). And he was seen as a threat to
this Greek goddess (Roman goddess). In spite of all the challenges against him,
Paul was able to make his disciples not only to share his mission work but to
train so that they would be able to carry out more mission works, started by
him. So, he had Soparter from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from
Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy and Tychicus and Trophimus from the
Asia Minor Province.
After the riot, Paul went back to Macedonia and
Achaia to do more follow-up work to fortify people’s faith and to make more new
disciples. And, he came back to Asia Minor. But, he decided to return to
Jerusalem as soon as possible, not to spend more time in Asia Minor (Acts
20:16). It means that he would not stop by Ephesus. However, he wanted to leave
an important message to the leaders of the nascent Ephesian church. So, he
delivered an important message to the presbyteries of the nascent Ephesian
church in Miletus (Acts 20:17-38), after raising Eutychus from the dead in Troas
(Acts 20:17-38).
In today’s First Reading (Acts 20:17-27), we sense
that Paul must have thought that it was time for the leaders of the Ephesian
church to lead the community, upon the foundation that he had laid. He also wanted
the leader to remember the way he did as a point of reference. He also implied
that he was sensing the nearness of his martyrdom.
Some questions to reflect on from Paul’s message to
the elders of the Ephesian church:
If you are a Baptized and Confirmed Catholic, do you
see yourself serving the Lord as Paul did?
If you are serving as a pastoral leader, how would
you work on people of God, so that they can grow in faith, empowered by the Holy
Spirit, nourished by the Word, in reference to Paul’s apostolic pastoral
leadership?
How will you reflect Jesus’ farewell prayer (John 17:1-26) into your pastoral
work?
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