Reflection: "Consecrate them in the truth."

See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. 1 John 3:1

You are a beloved child of the Father. You have been "consecrated" in the truth. You are loved more that you can ever imagine. Remain in that Love which has been bestowed upon you. Stay attached to Him through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, through prayer, through Eucharistic Adoration and through the Scriptures.

"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." John 17:17-19

In his homily this morning, my pastor spoke of Pope Saint Leo the Great who asked: "What is truth?"

The truth is God sent His Son into the world. 

The truth is that Son was born of a Virgin. 

The truth is that Son grew in wisdom and obedience.

The truth is that Son performed miracles. 

The truth is that Man suffered and died on the Cross.

The truth is that Man rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

This is the truth we consecrate ourselves in. This is the truth we bring into the world. In the world, there are those who love the truth and those who hate the truth. Remain in the truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Remain in Him.

Meditation:

Place yourself in the scene of this Gospel as Jesus is praying to the Father. The disciples are nearby, listening to Jesus. As you listen, draw close to Jesus that you know how intimate His relationship is with the Father. Jesus is speaking to the Father about you and how much He loves you. Sit with Him and allow His love to flow over you like a river.

Then Jesus tells you that He and the Father are One. As you listen, you hear Jesus say He is going to the Father. He is teaching you how to pray to the Father as He prays to Him. Jesus is interceding to the Father for you. He is calling you to follow Him. To be His disciple, Jesus wants you to be with Him in union with the Father.

Lift up your eyes to heaven and speak to the Father, open your heart and know that the Father hears your prayers. You are not alone. He is with you and you are His beloved child.

Lifting up His eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying, "I pray not only for these, 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 my be also in us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." John 17:20-21