Passion Vs Prayer
Dear brothers and sisters,
I wish you’ll a Blessed Holy week! During this ‘Year of Prayer’ it is better to reflect on the prayer that Jesus offered just before His passion and death on the Cross, (Jn 17:1-26) Jesus’ prayer of intercession.
In this prayer, Jesus prayed for all believers, both present and future. What a privilege it is, 2.000 years later, to read these words and know that Jesus had us in mind as He prayed! By praying through this prayer, we gain insight both into how Jesus prayed and how He related to His heavenly Father.
Jesus told His Father that He had now accomplished the work He was sent to do, and that He had made God’s name and character to those for whom He was sent. (Jn 17:6-8) Jesus’ work on earth was to manifest His Father to His disciples and all believers that were to follow. Jesus said, “This is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” (Jn 17:3) Even now, in His last moments on earth, Jesus’ primary concern remained that WE would come to know our heavenly Father.
The last week of His life on earth, in this prayer, Jesus speaks of unity. He prays fervently for the unity of his disciples, that they may be one just as he and the Father are one. This unity is not merely an external cohesion but a profound union of hearts and minds, rooted in love and shared purpose. It is a unity that transcends differences, a unity that reflects the very essence of God himself.
Whatever is our passion in life we need to include it in our prayer; take it to the Lord in prayer as Jesus did. His passion became His prayer; His prayer became His purpose. During this Holy Week let us strive to become “the answer” to Jesus’ prayer in our daily living.
Wishing you a Joyful Easter. Blessings!
Msgr. Xavier
Please pray for vocations to the priesthood &
for the Priests of our Diocese
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Rev. Msgr. Xavier Pappu
msgrxavier@stmattlgv.com
Phone: 903-295-3890 x 2103
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