Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of the Seventh Week of
Easter (12th May, 2016) on the Gospel
(Saints Nereus & Achilleus, M.; Saint
Pancras, M., Opt. Mems)
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11;
Ps 15:1-2.5.7-11. (R. v.1);Jn 17:20-26.
Topic: Knowing the Father’s name.
This gospel is the concluding part of Jesus’ prayer for His
disciples. Again, it was read last Sunday (Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year C). For
our last Sunday’s homily click http://www.thepulpitonline.com/2016/05/realization-of-christs-prayer-seventh.html
The concluding verse of today’s gospel reads, “I 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.” Jesus’ determination to make the
Father’s name known to His disciples and the Father’s love it brings about could
make one ask, ‘What does it mean to know the Father’s name?’
While speaking to the Jews Jesus said, “But you have not
known him; I know him... I do know him and I keep his word” (Jn 8:55). Again, the first letter of
Saint John reads,
Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his
commandments. Whoever says, ‘I have come to know him,’ but does not obey his
commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist (1Jn 2:3-4).
Knowing the Father is far beyond one’s ability to say that
His name is God. It demands living as His children. Hence Saint Paul condemned
the attitudes of those who paraded themselves as Jews but never lived as Jews
with this quotation, “For, as it is written, ‘The name of God is blasphemed
among the Gentiles because of you’” (Rom
2:24; cf. Is 52:5; Ezek 36:20-22). Whoever says that he/she knows God but
does not live it out will not be saved, cf. Jas 2:14.
Bible Reading: Rom
2:17–3:8.
Thought for today: Do you really know God?
Let us pray: Lord, give us the grace to know you and
to live it out – Amen.
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