HOMILY FOR THE 7TH WEDNESDAY OF EASTER — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil”
BY: Fr. Ernest Cross
Acts 20:28-38, Ps. 68:29-30,33-36, John 17:18–19
In today’s gospel reading, we hear an additional part of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples on the eve of the Last Supper. This prayer is filled with realism, as Jesus earnestly asks the Father to protect his followers from the devil. It echoes the request found in the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught his disciples: “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil” or “from the evil one.”
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In both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus encourages us to pray for ourselves. In the Gospel of John, however, Jesus takes it a step further by praying for us as well. He is fully aware of our vulnerability to various attacks in our relationship with him and knows that our faith will be tested. Yet, today’s reading reassures us that we can trust in Jesus’ intercession on our behalf, just as the Good Shepherd protects his flock.
No temptation can overpower the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Jesus asks for his disciples to be shielded from evil so that they can engage in his global mission. Just as God sent Jesus into the world, Jesus sends us forth as well. His mission was to reveal God’s love to the world, and we are called to do the same. Jesus prayed for God to consecrate us for our mission, just as God had already set him apart and empowered him for his purpose. In this gospel reading, Jesus establishes a profound connection between himself, his disciples, and us.
God bless you.
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