Easter Seven - The Prayer of Jesus for Us

It is of utmost comfort and humbling challenge that Jesus prayed for his disciples, including us, before he gave himself over to death. He prayed three things for his disciples before he left them (and therefore for us too): for their protection; that they would know union with his father as he did; and that in the fullness of time they would go where he was going. (John 17:1-11)

Sentence:

“And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” John 17:11

If you are celebrating Ascension you may like to read this blog.

Ascension

Collect:

Gracious God, our Source and guide throughout time,

We gather to worship and pray

knowing that we are already prayed for

and all that we face and seek to do

is already covered by our Lord’s loving intention.

When we and our brothers and sisters are sore pressed

protect us, keep us under your wing,

and when our days end gather us to yourself. Amen.

Reflection:

For many of us this is a difficult and crucial time for those of us of faith. With so many views and competing voices that claim to speak for Christ many of us feel under attack or having to fight battles we thought we had won before. Indeed, some defenders of the faith are in physical danger and could well describe their situation as a “fiery ordeal” (1 Peter 41:12). It is of comfort to know we have been prayed over by Jesus himself.

You may like to read what I have previously written on the gospel.

Jesus Prayed for Us

All our readings this week describe in some way the world we seem to be living in. Jesus prayed that we be protected but not removed from the world. There are times I suspect when most of us would prefer to be removed from the world or an aspect of life that we are facing or fear we are about to face. But we are not offered that kind of rescue. The protection we are offered is spiritual – our precious true selves that are nested in the divine. We are, I think, also asked to offer protection to one another as beloved sisters and brothers, children of the Most High. I know that many churches have had to rediscover their role as places of refuge and witnesses.

Jesus also prayed that his disciples would know the oneness that he and God knew. This intimate connection, this ultimate belonging, binds us to what cannot be destroyed – to what is eternal. It is not only a protection but a strengthening in that when faced with ordeal and persecution we are reminded of our connection to Source – the source of life, love, truth, eternity. Being connected to what is bigger and more universal and timeless than the immediate trials we face protects, strengthens, and connects us to what is beyond the controversy and attacks of the moment to the great ark of the moral and loving universe. When the battles we face now do seem to be won or lost we are reminded that there is a greater, truer story line that is slowly unfolding and that we are part of something whose final achievement we cannot necessarily guess.

And because of this Jesus is able to pray that we will one day go where he was going – home to the Source, to God. And when we have played our part, however small or large, however apparently successful or not, we will be taken back into the embrace from which we came.

Intercessions:

Source of all being and time,

We give you thanks and praise for the beauty and the hope that fills your world

We pray for the strengthening and protection of tall trees, and microscopic creatures …

We particularly pray for peoples, creatures and places of destruction and despair

Strengthen all agencies of care, peace keepers, and leaders who seek the common good.

Source of all being and time,

Hear our prayer.

Jesus our friend and shield,

We give you thanks for the cover of prayer you have laid over us.

Help us be confident in your good purposes and the plans you have for your world.

We particularly pray for all who are persecuted, shouted down or overlooked …

And we pray that those who claim to speak in your name but do not do so in love may be constrained for your name’s sake.

We pray that we your church might grow bold with hope and love for the bruised, proclaiming justice and mercy in what we do and say.

Jesus our friend and shield,

Hear our prayers.

Spirit given to us to enliven,

Make yourself know to us and through us that what is weary may rise up again with songs and dances of hope and joy.

We particularly pray for all who are sick, frightened, overwhelmed and those near to death …

May they be comforted by your Spirit and guided where they need to go.

Spirit given to enliven us,

Hear our prayer.

Living God,

Loving Source, our friend and shield, and Enlivening Spirit,

We pray in the name of the Risen Christ, who calls us to live with courage protected by Love. Amen. 

 This is my work informed by all that I have heard, read and experienced. I am indebted to the wisdom of others.