Day 7
Beloved of Jesus
A. Opening Song
Only This I want
Refrain:
Only this I want:
but to know the Lord,
and to bear His cross,
so to wear the crown He wore.
1. All but this is loss,
Worthless refuse to me,
For to gain the Lord
Is to gain all i need.
2. I will run the race;
I will fight the good fight,
So to win the prize
Of the Kingdom of my Lord.
3. Let your hearts be glad,
Always glad in the Lord
So to shine like stars
In the darkness of the night.
B. SCRIPTURE READING
(John 17:1-5)
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
C. MEDITATION
The Son of God, who came down "from heaven, not to do [his] own will, but the will of that who sent [him]"(John 6, 38), said on coming into the world, "Lord, I have come to do your will, O God." "And by that will we have been sanctified Through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrew 10, 5-10). From the first moment of his Incarnation the Son embraces the Father's plan of divine salvation in his redemptive mission: "My food i to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplished his work"(John 4, 34). The sacrifice of Jesus "for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2,2) expresses his loving communion with he Father. "The Father loves me, because I lay down my life,"(John 10, 17)said the Lord, "[for] I do as the Father has commended me, so that the world may know that I love the Father."(John 14, 31)(CCC 606)
By his loving obedience to the Father, "unto death, even death on a cross"(Phil 2,8),Jesus fulfills the atoning mission(cf. Isaiah 53:10) of the suffering Servant, who will make many righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities." (Isaiah 53, 11; cf Romans 5, 19)(CCC623)
D. PRAYER
(John 17, 20-26)
I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may al be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world, O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them our name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.
E. LITANY TO GOD THE FATHER
Leader: O God, Father of Heaven
All: * Have mercy on us.
: O God, Son, Redeemer of the World *
: O God, Holy Spirit *
: Father, Creator of the world *
: Father, eternal wisdom *
: Father, infinite goodness *
: Father, bountiful *
: Father, fount of everything *
: Father, most sweet *
: Father, infinite mercy *
: Father, and defender *
: Father, our glory and happiness *
: Father, wealth of all people *
: Father, triumph of all nations *
: Father, hope of all Christians *
: Father, splendor of the Church *
: Father, splendor of kings *
: Father, overturner of idols *
: Father, consolation of people *
: Father, happiness of priests *
: Father, guide of men and women *
: Father, gift of family life *
: Father, help of the poor *
: Father, guide of youth *
: Father, friend of children *
: Father, freedom of slaves *
: Father, light of those who live in darkness *
: Father, destroyer of the proud *
: Father, wisdom of the just *
: Father, rest in tribulations *
: Father, hope in toil *
: Father, harbor of safety in danger *
: Father, consolation of the afflicted *
: Father, refuge of the hopeless *
: Father, refuge of orphans *
: Father, refuge of the aged *
: Father, refuge of the dying *
: Father, that relieves our thirst and poverty *
: Father, life of the dead *
: Father, glory of all the saints *
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
* forgive us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
* graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
* have mercy on us, O Lord.
Prayer:
(taken from "The Father Speaks to His Children" p.68-69)
Father, the world needs You
Every person needs You
The heavy and polluted air needs You.
We beg You, dear Father
Come back to walk the streets of the world
Come back to live among Your people
Come back to guide the nations
Come back to bring peace with Your justice
Come back to bring the fire of Your love.
So... redeemed by sorrows
we can become a new creation.
Amen.
F. CLOSING SONG
Dwelling Place
by John Foley, SJ
I fall on my knees to the Father of Jesus
The Lord who has shown us the glory of God.
May He is His love give us Strength for our living
The Strength of His Spirit, the glory of God.
Refrain:
May Christ find a dwelling place
of faith in our hearts
May our lives be rooted in love,
rooted in love (Interlude)
May grace and peace be yours in
God our Father and in His Son.
(Repeat Refrain)