That the world may believe that you sent me

At 22,30; 23,6-11; Ps 15; Jn 17,20-26
6 JUNE

Saint Paul never sees Christ separated from the Father. He never sees the disciple separated from Christ. He never sees a man saved by the Father except in Christ, through Christ and with Christ. This unity between Father, Christ and disciple is admirably sung in the Letter to the Ephesians. Everything is from the Father. But everything is for Christ. The Father does not act without Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favour of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favour that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth. In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first instalment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory. 

Therefore, I, too, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way (Eph 1,3-23).

The disciple of Jesus has a particular vocation to fulfil. He must arrange that the whole world believes that Christ the Lord has been sent by the Father. How will he fulfil his mission? Becoming one with Christ Jesus. In Christ he will also become one with the Father. If the disciple is in Christ, the Father might act with him, as he acted with Christ. In Christ, He might also make him a victim of expiation for the sins of the world. For his sacrifice the world will believe that truly Christ has been sent by the Father. Never might this faith be born in the world if the disciple does not become one with Christ the Lord.

“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”

The mystery of the knowledge of the Father is accomplished in the disciple, if he is in Christ and lives for Christ and with Christ. If he separates himself from Christ, he does not know the Father, because the mystery of knowledge is interrupted and nobody might know the Father for him.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints arrange that the disciples live in Christ, with Christ and for Christ.