In today’s gospel, Jesus prays to His Father for our protection, to be kept from the evil one and for our consecration. What does this mean? With last Sunday’s gospel about Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the image of Jesus protecting us is still fresh in our minds. Each person, young or old has their own set of concerns – the things that possibly worry us. How do we deal with the daily challenges of life? Jesus reminds us that we can live each day in confidence and in freedom. We do not need to be a slave to worry, to difficult challenges – to those things that might be preventing us from experiencing the joy that only can be found in Jesus!
For to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. (Ps91:11)
One of my favorite prayers before going to sleep is from St. Alphonsus, a reminder of Jesus’s protection.
Jesus Christ, my God, I adore Thee and I thank Thee for the many favors Thou hast bestowed on me this day. I offer Thee my sleep and all the moments of this night, and I pray Thee to preserve me from sin. Therefore, I place myself in Thy most sacred side, and under the mantle of our Blessed Lady, my Mother. May the holy Angels assist me and keep me in peace, and may Thy blessing be upon me. Amen
And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth. Consecrate means to make holy. The Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier, who makes us holy. St. Irenaeus said: “The glory of God is the human person fully alive.” A holy person is “fully alive”. We love God and our neighbor with all our heart. We use our minds to learn and study, especially the Sacred Scriptures. We live each day, knowing that our citizenship is in heaven!
God bless us all always! Deacon Mike