Reflection by Rev. Leonard N. Peterson
Over the long reach of time granted our beloved Church, we find not only an interest in how our ancestors interpreted their faith, but also how they prayed. Fortunately, we have existing records of such that impress, uplift and inspire our own praying. Generations have been quick to adopt St. Francis of Assisi’s “Make me a channel of Your peace,” as their own, coming to us from the 12th century. We even count it as a popular hymn. Reaching back further, we have Our Lady’s “Magnificat” and St. Paul’s exaltation of Charity.
But above all of those in our Church’s treasury, we have two of Our Lord Jesus’ prayers: the one He taught us to use as a model, which we call “the Our Father.” and the one in today’s Gospel of John.
The setting of it propels us backward to the scene of that Last Supper on Holy Thursday night, when Jesus turns His mind from the disciples at the table around Him, then “lifting up His eyes” to address His Father. He reaches out to the future, asking the Father to bless believers of every age, including, of course, you and me.
His overarching theme is unity. He wants that unity to catch the outside world’s attention. He also wants the love He has for the Father to be in our hearts as well. It is an opening of His own heart that the Eleven gathered in that upper room get to hear.
Granted, we cannot pray Jesus’ words or make them our own precisely because Jesus is God. But we can implement the practice of love of neighbor that His prayers imply. St. Stephen the deacon certainly did that. Even as he is murdered with stones, he prays for his killers.
As we near the close of the great Easter season, when we will have celebrated for 50 days, we can certainly hold our heads high with being parts of God’s family on earth. This is not to deny our imperfections and the flaws in our makeup. But certainly, in a world that is still stubborn and a culture that clings to being secular only, we are sisters and brothers of a risen Savior. It’s good to remember that “While God promises us a safe landing, He does not promise a calm voyage.”
God love you and give you His prayer-filled peace.
Rev. Peterson’s Reading & Gospel Summary
Reading I: Acts 7; 55-60
The feast of the deacon St. Stephen, our Church’s first martyr, is annually celebrated the day after Christmas. Christians immediately learn that following Christ is not always “a walk in the park.” So today we hear the full story of this saint’s bravery.
Reading II: Revelation 22: 12-14, 16-17
In this “epilogue” to the vision story, Jesus gives Himself the title used to describe God, namely as the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end of all things. The Church, as a “bride,” is wedded to Christ the “groom.”
The Gospel: John 17: 20-26
Jesus “great prayer” reaches into the future to bless believers in Him of every age. He also envisions a visible unity that will speak volumes to the observant world.