YOU LOVED ME BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD

At 22,30; 23,6-11; Ps 15; Jn 17,20 -26
17 MAY
What Jesus asks of the Father today for the disciples: “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may contemplate my glory, that which you have given me; since you loved me before the creation of the world”, we can understand it, letting ourselves be helped by what happened on the day of the transfiguration.

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid” (Mt 17,1-8).

For a moment Peter sees the glory of Christ Jesus. He wants to transform time into eternity. He asks to be able to remain eternally in that vision of bliss and peace. Jesus today asks the Father to grant this grace to his Apostles: being with him tomorrow in the eternal dwellings, because only then will they know that their following of Jesus has not been in vain and useless. They will also know how great his love has been for them. Only when one lives in the tent of God, or in God the true tent of man, we will know how infinite the love of the Father has been. He gave us his eternal Son. Then we will also understand how immense the love of the Son has been. He let himself be crucified, He is the Eternal God, the God clothed with eternal glory, for our love. Today we can only imagine the greatness of the love of the Father and of the Son, if we are fully in the Holy Spirit. If we are not in the Spirit of God, we are also lacking in sound imagination. That the world today wants to remove Christ Jesus from its sight, asking everyone to hide the Crucified, testifies not only that it is without the Holy Spirit, but that it is also devoid of any human consideration. Neither has it pity for a just man unjustly condemned for hatred against God and against humanity. The passion of Christ is not over. It will continue until the day of the Parousia, when He will appear in the clouds of heaven for the universal judgment.

“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.”

In his First Letter to the Corinthians St. Paul reveals to us that none of the rulers of this world has known the wisdom hidden in Christ. He did not know it yesterday and does not know it today. Many Christians do not know it anymore today.

Yet we do speak a wisdom to those who are mature, but not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him,” this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God (1Cor 2,6-10).

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints, help us to know Christ.