THE HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER: PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH


THE HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER: PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (John 17)

          In the last few chapters (Jn 13-16), Jesus has been giving final instructions to His closest disciples, the Apostles, during the Last Supper. He warned them about persecution but also encouraged them by promising the arrival of the Holy Spirit. In this passage – Chapter 17- John records an extended prayer from Jesus just before He arrives in Gethsemane. While the other three Gospels note Jesus' final, anguished prayers in the garden, as we discussed in class, John describes this penultimate invocation, often referred to as the High Priestly Prayer. Reading through the chapter, it's clear that Jesus’ prayer is for the disciples. Yet, not only them but for all the believers, present and future: The priestly prayer of Jesus is the prayer for the Church, and unity among every member of the Church. Let's see some aspects of the prayer as a prayer for the Church.

Christ begins by praying for Himself. This, along with His example prayers, also recorded in Scripture (Mt 6:9-13), proves it is reasonable to pray on our behalf. The primary purpose of this is asking for God's will to be done; this is always for His glory (Jn 17:1), and our ultimate benefit (Rom 8:28-30). In this moment, Jesus notes that “the hour” has finally arrived for His sacrifice on behalf of mankind (Jn 3:16; 12:32-33).  This chapter has always struck me with its intensity and beauty. It is as if we were invited to enter into the very heart of Jesus, to witness a moment of profound communion between the Son and the Father.

·       Profound unity

Jesus prays for the unity of all believers, that they may be "one" as he is "one" with the Father (Jn 17:21). This unity is not limited to a sense of community, but is based on deep communion with God, a participation in the divine life. It is an invitation to overcome divisions and to live in love for one another. Jesus expresses a perfect unity with his Father, a communion of love and will surpassing all human understanding. This intimate relationship is the model for all believers, called to live in communion with God. It is by unity and love among the believers that others will be led to the faith and accept the Gospel.

·       Sanctification

Jesus asks the Father to "sanctify" his disciples "in the truth" (Jn 17:17). Sanctification is the process by which we become more and more conformed to the image of Christ. By nourishing ourselves with the Word of God, we are gradually transformed. The Church, a sacrament of salvation, needs to be more and more transformed and sanctified by the Father. Jesus does not pray only for his apostles present, but for all those who will believe in him throughout the ages. (Jesus prayed for us, believers of today) He asks his Father to keep them (us) united in the faith, to sanctify them (us) with the truth, and to protect them (us) from evil.

·       The mission

We can also see the missionary mandate in this priestly prayer of Jesus. He sends his disciples into the world, as the Father sent him (Jn 17:18). Every Christian is called to be a witness to God's love and to share the Gospel with those around them. It is a mission that goes beyond us, but which is entrusted to us by Christ himself. Christ prays that these men would be strengthened in their resolve, even as they are commissioned to remain in a hostile world (Jn 17:6-19). Through this prayer, we understand that the mission of the Church is to bear witness to God's love in the world. We are called to be witnesses of the truth, to bring Christ to our contemporaries.

Chapter 17 of the Gospel of John has always touched me deeply. Jesus' prayer, in which he implores his Father to keep his disciples united in love, resonates particularly with me. As a believer, I am often confronted with the diversity of opinions and the difficulty of living in harmony with others. This prayer reminds me of the importance of unity and pushes me to look for ways to strengthen the fraternal bonds within my community. Also, this chapter reminds me that I am not alone, that I am part of a larger body, the Church. He urges me to cultivate unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ, to seek to know and love them. It also reminds me of my mission to proclaim the Good News and to bear witness to God's love in my daily life.

B'rata Joe H., sdb - P'titeLight


 

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