Our gospel for today is from John 17:11-19. In this gospel, I have included these to ponder:

* ‘And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. So that they may be one, as we are one. “This line talks a lot about our recent situation. The world we live in is in great division. We are actually divided in continent, religion and beliefs, and of course power. People are becoming greedy to the extent of creating chaos and harm to their brothers and sister. Jesus never forgets His people and we can see it in John 17:11-19 where He showed us His undying protection and love.

Gospel: John 17:11-19

Jesus said to the disciples, ‘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. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.’

Reflection:

Humanity is becoming weaker consumed by our greed for wealth, power and destruction. This pandemic is getting worse for our brothers and sisters in other countries. All we need today is unity for all parts of the globe, regardless of religion and race. This is what Jesus is waiting from us. Christians should join in unity and we must offer our deepest prayers for protection. We must overcome any situation that brings us division. We must heal as one and only prayer can do it to save us all. Jesus never stopped loving His people. Jesus died on the cross to save us from great pit of hell because He loves us all.

The earth belongs to us but we must not belong to it. It means we must not put care about worldly pleasures, instead we must cleanse and sanctify our souls. The world is only a temporary abode because if we die, we will have judgment according to how we live. My brothers and sisters, we must follow the good path step by step and we must share what we have to our neighbors. This is what the gospel in John 17:11-19 is telling us.