John 17:6-19
6-12 I spelled out your character in detail
To the men and women you gave me.
They were yours in the first place;
Then you gave them to me,
And they have now done what you said.
They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt,
That everything you gave me is firsthand from you,
For the message you gave me, I gave them;
And they took it, and were convinced
That I came from you.
They believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I’m not praying for the God-rejecting world
But for those you gave me,
For they are yours by right.
Everything mine is yours, and yours mine,
And my life is on display in them.
For I’m no longer going to be visible in the world;
They’ll continue in the world
While I return to you.
Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
That you conferred as a gift through me,
So they can be one heart and mind
As we are one heart and mind.
As long as I was with them, I guarded them
In the pursuit of the life you gave through me;
I even posted a lookout.
And not one of them got away,
Except for the rebel bent on destruction
(the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).
13-19 Now I’m returning to you.
I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,
Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways.
I’m not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I’m consecrating myself for their sakes
So they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.
REFLECTION:
Thoughts from Monica, Turner Road Youth & Young Adult Site Chaplain
Jesus prays for his disciples. It's a profoundly beautiful moment, but it can also be perplexing. Considering that Jesus is understood as part of the Trinity, praying to God might seem like an odd concept. Are we essentially witnessing Jesus talking to himself?
Contemplating the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—can indeed lead to a sense of wonder and mystery. Some may attempt to dissect and comprehend it, while others, like myself, might throw up their hands and turn to thinking about something simpler, like nachos.
Lately, I've found solace in Fr. Richard Rohr's exploration of the Trinity in his book "The Divine Dance." Rather than fixating solely on the distinct elements of the Trinity, Rohr emphasizes their dynamic interaction and relationship: “The atom, the foundation of all creation, comprises three elements, electrons, protons, and neutrons. The energy that the atom produces for growth, is inherent in the relationship between the three elements. Remind you of anything?”
This week I’m reading Jesus’ prayer here and seeing the participatory and reciprocal nature of relationship (Love). “In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world."
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
Think of a way you could creatively share some of your resources with a coworker or peer, and then propose that to them.
Non-Violent Communication Question of the Week:
Often, we can confuse our own emotions with judgments about others’ actions. This happens when we say or hear something like, “I feel betrayed,” or “I feel attacked,” or “I feel ignored,” or “I feel misunderstood.”
Think of these words and similar examples. Can you think of any you use often? Can you identify a more true emotion lying beneath the judgment?
Pathways toward Centeredness
Activism (Loving God through Confrontation):
Choose a spending habit or subscription to a service you could end or cut back on. Instad, consider putting that money (even if it’s a “small” amount) toward a cause, organization, or ministry you stand behind.
Questions for Reflection
Read back through Jesus’ prayer here in “The Message” translation. What’s a word or phrase that stands out to you? Spend a few minutes sitting with it, and perhaps ask God: What do you want to show or “say” to me here?
“Liturgy” refers to the habits and practices humans use to form community around shared values and meaning. At Church at the Park, we desire to be a community of practice, becoming people who see the world through the eyes of the marginalized, making meaning through the lens of pain and suffering, and committing ourselves to non-violence in a wounded world. This weekly email is intended to provide pathways of practice for becoming the type of people who embody these values.
Many of our reflections on each week's text come from other sources. If you're interested in reading more of what inspires us, here our our two favorite reflections.
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