John 17:20-26 (NRSV)
Read John 17:20-26 on biblegateway.com
Verse 20"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, Verse 21that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. Verse 22The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, Verse 23I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Verse 24Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Verse 25"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. Verse 26I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Devotion
The gospel reading opens with Jesus’ prayer for his disciples who are immediately present. The focus shifts quickly, however, to include those who will come to faith in Jesus because of their words—which certainly imagines us and our words as well.
We live in a world of words, a world that is constantly being inundated and assaulted by the words of social media. Many of those words are kind and true, but far too many are hurtful and false. In such a world, our words pointing to Jesus Christ are needed even more. Those words pointing to Jesus are far more powerful when they come from a life lived for Jesus and our neighbor. When our words and our lives are congruent, then we can make sense of the words ascribed to Mother Teresa: “Spread the love of God through your life, but only use words when necessary.”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, make each of us preachers of the Word, that through the word of our lives and our spoken words, you may be lifted up as Lord and people may be brought to faith and discipleship. Amen!
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