By Thomas IVD
Readings: Acts 20: 17 – 27; Jn 17:1 – 11
In the beginning of Jesus’ ministry he manifested the glory of God by turning water into wine at Cana and at the end of his ministry he revealed the glory of God by calling the dead man Lazarus back to life. By other miraculous acts, Jesus revealed his divine glory and his divine power. Jesus says that he has glorified God on earth by finishing the work that God gave him to do. He prays that his followers will one day join in the Father’s presence to share in his glory and love.
In the first reading St. Paul is sure about what is going to happen to him. The Spirit has warned him of imprisonment and coming hardships. Paul concludes today’s passage by saying that he does not think that they will ever meet again in this world.
But his conscience is clear as far as the efforts he made to share the Gospel to them. St. Paul was intending to return to Jerusalem. He would never see Ephesus again. We could perhaps look back on our own lives and ask, ‘what has been our commitment to Jesus and his gospel?’