Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter; Feast of St. Bernardine of Siena
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 | Ps. 16:1-2a, 5, 7-11 | John 17:20-26
Today, Jesus is speaking to the Father pleading that we who walk the earth today may be one with Jesus and the Father as they are one. His prayer is that the glory that was given to Him may be given to us. Jesus’ desire is that we may become completely one so that the world may know that Jesus was sent to us. Jesus continues to pray that we may be with Him. Jesus does not want any of us to be lost. This is a sign of God’s infinite and complete love for us. The oneness that Jesus prays for is seen in the manner in which we love and serve all of God’s people. When we exclude others from our lives, thoughts, and concerns, we are not working towards that unity for which Jesus is pleading today.
Consider how you interact with people at home, your neighborhood, at work, in the store, etc. Do you treat them with the love that Christ extends to you? Are you exclusive towards anyone in the places named above? Today, go out to the individual whom you tend to stay away from. Ask God for the grace to respond with the same type of energy to that person that Christ had with all.