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Theo Tigno•
5/22/2012 1:26 pm
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Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter |
John 17: 11b-19
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth."
Dawg's Thought:
Today's prayer intention - for those who are unemployed.
People buy lottery tickets because they want a new life. My family members at times will call me to buy a lottery ticket when the jackpot goes above $150 million. There seems to be a certain hope that comes from what can happen when you win the lottery.
It seems that the desire for a new life is something that is common with a lot of people, otherwise lotteries wouldn't be popular.
In the prayer of Christ today, we hear Him asking the Father to consecrate us in the truth. I remember getting a guitar blessed once and the priest who did the blessing told me to make sure that I didn't play music on it that would go against worshiping Our Lord. I decided to look up what consecration is on New Advent and I saw this as the first sentence:
"Consecration, in general, is an act by which a thing is separated from a common and profane to a sacred use, or by which a person or thing is dedicated to the service and worship of God by prayers, rites, and ceremonies." - from New Advent
We hear in Jesus' prayer that He wants us to have a new life ... a different purpose for life ... a life that is set apart and dedicated to service and worship.
For each and every person who has the hope for a new life, do they know that Christ has already prayed for this to happen? Do they know that The Father, the Giver of all good gifts, hears the prayer for the Son that we may be changed ... that our purpose may be changed ... that we may have a life doing the Father's will here on earth as it is in Heaven?
My family buys multiple week chunks at a time so it automatically enters their numbers into the drawing. Yet, before then, you had to go to the store to buy your ticket every week. It took more of an effort to buy your ticket.
Isn't it the same way with our faith? I have seen people drive over 100 miles to buy a lottery ticket in a different state just for the hope of a new life. I have seen some who wouldn't walk a half a mile to receive the Word of God and the Sacraments.
Every week we not only play the spiritual lottery; we win because God freely gives us good gifts. Let us rejoice! Take care and God Bless.
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