First Reading - Acts 20:17-27
Gospel - John 17:1-11
In the first reading, Paul is saying farewell to the leaders of the Church in Ephesus. He knows that he may never see them again. He doesn’t boast about his achievements or dwell on what might happen to him. Instead, he simply testifies to the life he has lived—a life of service, of humility, of tears, of trials, and of unwavering commitment to proclaiming the Good News. Paul doesn’t fear the future, even though he knows it holds chains and hardships. Why? Because his life has one goal: “to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus.”
There’s something incredibly moving in Paul’s farewell. It’s not about success as the world defines it. It’s about faithfulness. It’s about staying true to the calling, even when it’s costly. His peace comes not from control over what lies ahead, but from the knowledge that he has lived with integrity and has not hesitated to proclaim God’s word in its fullness.
The Gospel passage takes us into another farewell—this time, the farewell of Jesus to His disciples in what is often called the “High Priestly Prayer.” Jesus knows that His hour has come. He lifts His eyes to heaven and speaks to the Father, not with fear or despair, but with confidence and love. He has glorified the Father on earth by completing the work He was given to do. And now, He entrusts His disciples to the Father’s care, praying that they may be one and that they may be protected and sanctified in truth.
In this intimate moment, we see Jesus’ heart—His deep love for those entrusted to Him and His longing for unity, for divine protection, for shared glory. Even as He approaches the cross, He is focused not on His own suffering but on the mission He has fulfilled and the people He is leaving behind. Just like Paul, Jesus lives His final moments not with regret or fear, but with purpose, trust, and love.
Dear friends, these readings speak to us with incredible relevance. They ask us: What are we living for? When the time comes for us to look back on our life, what will we have poured ourselves into? Will we be able to say, like Paul and Jesus, “I have finished the work I was given”?
So often, we worry about the unknown—about what lies ahead, about what we can’t control. But today, we’re reminded that peace and courage don’t come from having all the answers. They come from living each day with faithfulness, from giving ourselves fully to what God asks of us, and from entrusting the future to His hands.
Let us strive to live our days not chasing after comfort or success, but after the deeper joy of a life lived in service, in love, and in truth. Let us ask for the grace to be faithful in the mission entrusted to us—whether big or small—and to face every goodbye and every transition with courage and hope, knowing that we are never alone.
May the Spirit of truth and unity guide us, just as Jesus prayed, and may we one day be able to say with peace in our hearts: I have glorified God in my life. I have finished my race.
.jpeg)
0 Comments