The Prayer of Jesus

I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given me, for they are Yours (Jn. 17: 9).

Wisdom is the fruit of communion; ignorance the inevitable portion of those who "keep themselves to themselves," and stand apart, judging, analyzing the things which they have never truly known" (Evelyn Underhill: The Complete Christian Mystic, p.10).

***********************************

In studying the Prayer of Jesus this morning, I was struck by the fact that He said he was not praying for the world, but for "those you have given me, for they are yours."   But then he goes on to pray for "those who will believe in Me through their message....May they also be in us...."

Jesus has begun this prayer by acknowledging that the Father has granted Him "authority" over all people "that He might give eternal life to those You have given him."  The word here translated "authority" (power) is in the Greek the same word used in John 1:12 > Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right (power) to become children of God.

At the Last Supper, Jesus is praying not for the world, but for those who accepted His words and who believed that the Father had sent Him.  Jesus is praying here that the disciples might "be one as we are one," and that those who heard them might "be brought to complete unity....in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

I think I began looking closely at His prayer because I was praying this morning for those "the Father had given me," in a sense:  those with whom I have experienced some sort of communion, or unity.  Of course, as we pray, we begin with those closest to us -- namely our families -- that they might have in them the same spirit that has been given to us -- the Spirit of Jesus.  That they might have eternal life, even now, beginning in this life.  That they may continue to be united with us and not separated by evil and the temptations that separate us from love and unity.  

We pray for them also because, of all the people in the world, we know who they are and what they need -- they are in us and we are in them.  While I do pray for the world in general, it seems that each one of us must have a special mission to pray for those "the Father has given us."  I would think that we have no "authority" or "power" or "influence" over those Evelyn Underhill describes as "standing apart, judging, analyzing things they have never known."  

I am often led to pray for my neighbors -- not for all of them, but for those "the Father has given me," for those who "accept my words" and "believe in me."  Not that I am teaching them, of course, but in ordinary conversation, we have communion and sympathy for one another -- I, in a sense, am truly "in them" and they in me.  We are united, not "standing apart, judging and criticizing" one another.  And I desire their good, their health, their peace, their joy in a way that is possible only at a distance to those neighbors I do not know and who do not know me.

I think the Prayer of Jesus encourages me.  While I am discouraged at the state of the world, at the state of our nation, at the condition of the poor, the lonely, the "human refuse" of the world, and while I pray "Thy kingdom come" over all  these conditions, it seems that my "authority" in prayer really rests over those the Father has given me.  I cannot reach beyond what has been given to me -- but I do need to take care of what has been given.  St. John the Baptist said of himself: A man can receive only what has been given to him by heaven (Jn. 3:27).

Jesus did nothing on His own; everything came to Him from the Father and was returned by Him to the Father.  If we think of and pray for those the Father has given us and return them into His hands, we do well.

The Theo-drama

Bishop Robert Barron publishes Gospel Reflections each day that are available on your smart phone.  I think if you type in his name or "Word on Fire" they will probably appear.  Today's reflection concerns Mary's haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth after hearing the message of the angel.  According to Barron, Mary went with haste because she had discovered her role in the "theo-drama," or the great story told by God.

Everywhere in our culture, Barron says, we find the "ego-drama," the play that I'm writing, I'm producing, I'm directing, and I'm starring in.  I become the person I choose to be.  Indeed, his words remind me of those often told to young people:  You can be anything you want to be.  But according to Barron, what makes life thrilling is to discover our role in the "theo-drama," in God's great drama of salvation.  Once we discover our place in His play, our lives are energized and filled with excitement.

I remember the feeling I had when I first went to Delgado Community College to teach part-time:  This is where I'm supposed to be, I thought.  This is what my life is all about -- helping these students succeed.  For a good many of them had experienced little or no success; they hardly knew what to expect from higher education.  And they certainly could not have known how their lives would change as a result of succeeding in college.  I had found my mission, and I was willing to do anything within my power to fulfill it.

Mina Shaughnessy, who taught at City College of New York, wrote extensively on the problems encountered by those who teach developmental education -- or sort of "pre-college" courses.  She said that the teacher of these students would experience heights of exaltation and depths of discouragement hardly guessed at by other teachers.  And she was right.  We were in a struggle for their very lives.

I remember one class especially in the first year I taught.  The first week of class, I took the students to the library -- just so they could experience and get the feel of being in the library.  I asked them to walk around and find a book they thought was interesting, to bring me the book and talk with me about their reasons for choosing this book.  I thought this might be a way for me to get to know my students the first week.  Their homework was to write about their experience of being in the library.

One young woman wrote that for the first time she realized that she could sometimes take her 5-year-old to the library instead of to the playground.  I was stunned to read her words, and upon reflection, realized that even if she dropped out of college, the next three generations may have been affected by her one visit to the library.

I love Bishop Barron's explanation of the "theo-drama."  Maybe if we could teach children to seek God's plan for their lives instead of writing their own play, we could also change the next three generations.

Providence

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:6)

********************************

Several months ago, I received a notice that my general practitioner was no longer in practice. His patients had the option to find a new doctor or to switch over to one of two nurse practitioners.  I decided to ask around for recommendations from my friends and trusted sources.  My pulmonologist recommended a doctor in Long Beach, not far from my home.  However, the first appointment they could give me was March 17 (I had called in early November).  In addition, he would not accept my secondary insurance.  So I started over.

A friend recommended her doctor, but when I called, I was told that she was no longer accepting new patients.  They gave me the name of another doctor to call, but I could find no one who knew that doctor.  In desperation, I did call and set up an appointment however.  They were able to schedule me two weeks out; my appointment was for yesterday (Tuesday).

On Monday, I started having severe chills and aches, along with a urinary tract infection that was very painful.  In fact, I was seeing blood in the urine.  How grateful I was to have an appointment already scheduled the very next day!  

Today, I picked up Jesus Calling, a series of meditations for each day and I read the following:

I AM TAKING CARE OF YOU.  Feel the warmth and security of being enveloped in My loving Presence.  Every detail of your life is under my control.....Because the world is in an abnormal, fallen condition, people tend to think that chance governs the universe.  Events may seem to occur randomly, with little or no meaning.  People who view the world this way have overlooked one basic fact: the limitations of human understanding....If you could only see how close I am to you and how constantly I work on your behalf, you would never again doubt that I am wonderfully caring for you.  This why you must live by faith, not by sight, trusting in My mysterious, majestic Presence.

Not only is Divine Providence working constantly on our behalf, but our gracious God bends low enough to let us know what He is doing.  When I read the possible side effects of the prescribed medicine, I was afraid to begin taking it -- but I have no choice.  However, after reading this passage from Jesus Calling this morning, I have confidence that not only did God arrange for this doctor's visit, but He Himself will watch over the prescribed medicine.  How good it is to trust in the Lord!

The Power and Presence of God

Of all the definitions of "Grace" that I have heard, the best one to me is "The Power and Presence of God in this moment, for this situation."  I love that definition because I can relate so many moments of my life to the saving Presence of God -- from the time I was almost kidnapped at the age of five to the time I was kept from having my throat slit in City Park not too many years ago.  Of course, the meaning of grace extends to the thousands of quiet, non-dramatic or spectacular moments when the Presence of God has guided me in small and large decisions or actions -- sometimes even when I was not aware of the guidance until afterwards.

Most of us over 40 will remember the 1978 story of serial killer Ted Bundy, who broke into a Florida State sorority house and brutally murdered two young women, severely injuring two others.  Yet, according to the article in The Clarion Herald (October 2018)), when Bundy opened the door to one woman's bedroom and "stared straight into her face" as she lay in bed, he dropped his knife and fled the scene.

Later, the young woman told a Catholic priest that she had promised her mother before going off to college that she would pray a nightly rosary "for protection" at bedtime.  On the night of the attack, she was still holding her rosary when Bundy opened the door to her room.  When he was captured, Bundy said that he had every intention of killing that young woman, but a "mysterious force" made him drop the knife and flee for his life.

I cannot help but relate that story to the one of Balaam, a prophet or "seer" in the Book of Numbers (chapter 22).  The king of Moab was terrified at the sight of the Israelites camped across the Jordan River from him.  The Moabites said, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field."  So Balak , the king, sent for Balaam to come and curse the Israelites. But God said to Balaam, "You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed."

Because Balak sent even more and greater princes to persuade Balaam, he went with them anyway -- but "an angel of the Lord stood in his path to turn him aside."

I wonder just how many times the angels have blocked the path of those who set out to curse us or to harm us.  I wonder how much we actually dwell in the Power and Presence of the Most High God without even realizing it.

Infinite Joy

We are designed and created for infinite joy.  We talk about "getting to heaven," but really, what we mean is that we are invited even now to enter into eternal "Life," or participation in the eternal exchange of love between the Father and the Son, by means of the Holy Spirit.

"If you knew the Gift of God," Jesus said to the woman at the well, "you would ask Me, and I would give you, water springing up to eternal life" (Jn. 4: 10).  The "Gift of God"  -- eternal life, or eternal joy, eternal peace, eternally knowing that we are the Beloved of God.  Eternally dancing in response to His Great Love.  Eternally being created in His Image and Likeness.  Eternally growing in our capacity to know Him and to love Him, and with Him, all that He has created.

How simple it is....."you would ask Me, and I would give you!"  No "straighten up your life first, and then I will give you."  But rather, "Let Me Give You, and then, you will straighten up...."  And then you will obey Me.  And then you will receive even more life, even more joy.

What God wants from us is simply our attention -- so He can continue to pour into us His life, His goodness, His joy.  And that is the reason our attention is so in demand from the world and from the Evil One.  They, too, want our attention, and they, too, promise us joy.  And we do not know that we are being led away from the center of joy, of life, when we turn our attention toward them.

The waters of Baptism flow over us with all the promises of God toward us --  You will be mine, and I will be yours.  I will teach you and lead you, if only you will listen to Me.  And your joy no one will take from you.  Joy to see and to hear what no one on earth can see and hear, but for Me.  Joy to live and to love as God Himself lives and loves.

But we have other things to see and to hear, other things to do  -- until we have seen it all and heard it all and done it all --- and we are still hungry and thirsty for more.

I used to teach English composition to developmental students.  That means that they entered college with few skills toward success in writing.  As non-readers for the most part, they were blind to the common signals of punctuation and grammar.  Often, they did not recognize the difference in print of the ordinary words of English:  their / there; riding/ writing; your/ you're, etc.  Moreover, many of my students coming out of high school could not recognize my passion for their success -- in their experience, it was them against the teacher.  Some were expecting to fail from the outset, and therefore gave up before they had started.  They sat in class but failed to do homework, knowing it was no use -- and hoping that if they didn't cause trouble, I would pass them out of the kindness of my heart.

And always, always, I would tell them, "Stay with me, and I will get you through.  I know the way through the proficiency exam, and I know how to get you there.  I will not abandon you to your ignorance and weakness.  I will be your strength.  Stay with me until the end and do not grow discouraged."  And yet, they would often give up for lack of hope, or because other things demanded their time and attention, or because they just didn't want to persevere to the end.  And they could not see my hope for them, my desire for their success, and my great disappointment when they gave up or simply refused to accept my help.  Some never found their way into my office; nor would they stay to see me after class.  They hunched their shoulders and accepted failure as if it were their destiny in life.

But for those who stayed with me, for those who took to heart my lessons, who began to see in their writing what I saw, who gradually took on new eyes to see, they could lift their heads knowing that success would be theirs.  They were not locked into life as they had known it -- they could and would succeed not only in my class but in the next one and the one after that.  For the most part, they did not see my joy in their success, for the semester was over.  But knowing they were prepared to succeed was my greatest joy.  All they had to do for one semester was to be present, to listen, and to do whatever I told them to do.  And their lives would never be the same.

There's a lesson in here somewhere.  If we could just learn it.