[ Today's Readings ]
Holy Father, keep us united in the name of Jesus. By the power of the Holy Spirit make us one just as you are one with your Son and the Holy Spirit. You call us to this unity, the same unity of the disciples gathered in the upper room at Pentecost, the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (see Ephesians 4:3), because it is in profound union with you, with the divine nature (see Second Peter 1:4), that we find joy.
I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely.
Jesus, you want us to be so consecrated in this truth and marked by it that it distinguishes us more than our life in the world. The world, in fact, hates us. It does so precisely because we do not belong to the world. We give the lie to its pretenses and misplaced priorities. But when the truth unites us and marks our lives, when we know your name and who you are, we overcome the world (First John 5:5). This is because you first consecrate yourself for us. You dedicate yourself to us. You make you life about revealing to us the truth the sets us free (see John 8:32).
When we are consecrated in your truth savage wolves who will not spare the flock cannot harm us. This is the power of God and "that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you inheritance among all who are consecrated." This is the power whereby we need never want anyone's silver or gold, the power whereby we may work for the kingdom with our own hands, the power whereby we may truly love one another.
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
It is the power whereby we can go to Jerusalem even if it means following you to the cross. If we follow you to the cross we know for sure that we follow you all the way to the resurrection.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
“Confess the power of God!”
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