“I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word…” – John 17:20

       I like the story of Elijah and Elisha. Next to Moses, Elijah was the greatest Old Testament prophet. Elisha was his disciple, his understudy. Think Robin to Batman.

       One day, the great prophet said to his disciple, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken away from you.” I love what Elisha replied: “I pray that I get a double portion of your spirit.”

        How daring! If there were people around who heard Elisha’s request, perhaps some of them would have said, “How dare he ask that way? How arrogant!” But Elijah asked for a double portion not so that he would be greater than his teacher. He asked so that he could serve more.

     There are times when we pray for something, and then we stop because we feel that it’s a selfish prayer. “It’s just for me,” we think. And so we reject the blessing of God that was supposed to be not for us, but to be used as a blessing for many others.

       Here’s a key principle you have to understand: God wants to bless others through you, but He has to bless you first. Bo Sanchez

Reflection: Are you ready to be blessed? Ask God for a double portion of the blessing that you need.

In today’s reading, Paul used an argument that confused his accusers as they stand on opposite sides of the theological debate. His accusers argued with each other and no longer questioned Paul. Paul knew that his destiny will be decided in Rome. But he took every opportunity to preach the Gospel to unbelievers.

30 Wishing to determine the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the commander freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them. 23:6 Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.” 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. 9 A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst and take him into the compound. 11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

R: Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; 2 I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you.” 5 O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. (R) 7 I bless the Lord who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. 8 I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R) 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; 10 because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R) 11 You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus affirmed in today’s Gospel that other servants will follow in the footsteps of the Apostles. This is the nature of the Church – we pass on to the next generation of believers what we have received from the previous one. The Holy Spirit works through this process and helps each generation to apply the Gospel to the situations and issues of the time.

May they all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that the world may believe that you sent me, says the Lord.

20 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, 21 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. 22 And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 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. 24 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. 25 Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. 26 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.”

think: How important to you is unity with other Christians? With whom do you share this unity?

Read the Bible in one year 2 Samuel 1-4

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

KEEP ME SAFE, O GOD;

YOU ARE MY HOPE

In all of the years that I have written for Sabbath, I have never given a reflection based on the Psalm Response for the day.

       We live in a world that does not seem to know what it is doing or where it wants to go. There is a multitude of groups all screaming about their perceived rights and demanding the governments to deliver them, if not today then yesterday. It is a very confusing place to find a moral or even a logical argument because they are basically absent from the debates.

       This is an intolerable situation for anyone trying to make sense of the mess, and it also means one has to look elsewhere to find a basis on which to build a coherent and effective ethic of life. This is why I am so happy with my faith as it provides precisely such a service. My trust in God allows me to build an ethic of life on my relationship with Him and I am, thus, able to slowly thread my way between the various arguments and philosophies of the world.

       The Gospel of John tells us that it is the truth that will set us free (John 8:31, 36) and so this is what I always look for in my search for the right way to live my life. What is the truth pertaining to a given situation, problem, relationship, etc.? It is only in engaging the truth that I will be truly free in my life choices.

       The Psalmist has hope because he is aware that true hope comes from God, and that it is when we maintain our relationship with Him that we have hope that will give us the life we desire. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

Where do you look for truth in your life? Have you allowed the world and its values to deprive you of the truth? Sometimes the world gets it right, but too often it is merely the vehicle by which you are influenced in the direction of sin, not life.

Jesus, help me to see You and Your life as the source of hope and truth in my life. Amen.