“Fa
ther, the time has come” (Jn 17:1)
The Ascension of Christ, celebrated on Thursday, tells us that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father where, according to Romans 8:34, he intercedes for us. We might wonder: “What does Jesus pray”?
John’s Gospel gives us a good idea in what is known as the “High Priestly Prayer” (Jn. 17). It is a long prayer “whose texture is so rich that we may choke on it unless we chew it slowly” [1]. But, like each of the 21 prayers recorded in the Gospels, Jesus addresses God simply and intimately as Father[2]. Jesus most likely used the Aramaic word “Abba”, we might say “Daddy”. At the heart of Jesus’ prayer for us is that we would be joyfully embraced within the same relationship of trust, harmony and love that Jesus enjoyed with the Father: “As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us (Jn 17:21).” This might give us a fresh understanding of “holiness” (c.f. Jn 17:17) – a community complete, secure, whole and joyfully abiding in Father, Son and Spirit.
God Bless,
Sean
[1] Wright, N. T. (2002). Twelve Months of Sundays: Reflections on Bible Readings, Year B (p. 67). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
[2] Milne, Bruce. The Message of John. Assumed First edition. Leicester, England ; Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic, 1993. (The cry of dereliction, Mt 27:46 is the one exception)