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Gospel Reflection – Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters, peace and all good.
Jesus is saying goodbye. He is about to leave His disciples, but He cares deeply for them. He prays to the Father for their unity. True to His message, He doesn’t ask that everything go smoothly for them—because a disciple is not above the Master—nor that they live without difficulties. Here are a few points for reflection.
Jesus prays for the unity of His disciples: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, just as we are one.” United in love and in their mission, following the model of unity between the Father and the Son. While Jesus was with them on earth, He protected and guided them: “While I was with them, I protected them in your name, and I kept them safe.” Now, they are to care for one another, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
He also prays for their joy: “Now I am coming to you, and I say these things while I am still in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in them.” With deep faith and hope for the future, they are to carry the Good News to all people. And to stay joyful, even in the face of rejection. He warns them about the world’s hatred: “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” In other words, they must go against the current, and stay faithful no matter what. Because they had a great mission—to glorify God and bring blessing to all people.
Jesus does not ask the Father to take them out of the world, but to protect them from evil: “I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.” He asks that they not be corrupted by the world, that they stand strong against sin and temptation. That they walk through this world—even if it feels like hostile territory—with courage.
And to live that way, they must be holy. Jesus also prays for their holiness: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” The scent of holiness can be felt, it spreads, and others can sense it too. “A scent of holiness” is what some saintly people are said to have had. That’s the calling for every believer.
Finally, Jesus speaks about His mission and His relationship with the Father: “Just as you sent me into the world, I send them into the world… And I sanctify myself for them, so that they too may be sanctified in truth.” In short, Jesus prays for the unity, protection, joy, and holiness of His disciples, while emphasizing His deep bond with the Father and their mission in the world.
Your brother in faith,