Today is Day 38 of our reflections on the gospel of John.  Thanks so much for joining us!  You can contact us at www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 17:1-19

“‘Father, the hour has come…’” (v 1)

It is time.  Since the crowds welcomed Him into Jerusalem, waving palms and shouting praises, Jesus has been telling us that his hour is come.  That arrival set into motion the series of events that have happened and will happen next.  And there is no going back.  He has ministered to His most beloved, and now, lifting up His eyes, He returns to the gaze of the Father.

And what does Jesus say in these last precious moments?  He offers Himself, that the Father’s will may be done.  He prays for His apostles, that they may remain in truth, and He prays for us.  Jesus’ whole life, and now this last prayer, is one continual offering.

I wonder what we will offer?  Do we think of our lives in this way?  Is it possible, friends, that your life is not about you?  Most of us have probably spent a good part of life seeking to get the most out of it, or grasping for control, or, when that fails, numbing or coping to deal with the disappointment we inevitably face.  But could there be another way?

"Man, who is the only creature on earth which God willed for himself, cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of self." (Gaudium et Spes, No. 24).  Today we find this in Jesus’ example.  We are made in His image, and His life was all about this gift, this offering, this hour.  What will our gift be?

Prayer: Father, I want to give the gift of my life to You. Honestly, Father, I do not feel like it is enough. How can I ever give anything that is enough after what You have given me? But, like a parent who receives a handmade gift from their child, I know that You delight in my gift, because you see my heart, my desire to give to you. Jesus, help me to be like you, realizing my life is not about me, but about how I can love like You do. Only in this gift of myself will I truly find all that my heart desires: true freedom, love, and joy.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.