Some wonderful reflections to consider on this the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, from VIS news (my emphases):
CHRISTIAN UNITY REQUIRES INDIVIDUAL CONVERSION
VATICAN CITY, 25 JAN 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI dedicated his catechesis
during this morning's general audience to Christ's priestly prayer during
the Last Supper, as narrated in chapter 17 of the Gospel of St. John. In
order to understand this prayer "in all its immense richness", said the
Pope, it is important to see it in the context of the Jewish feast of
atonement, Yom Kippur, in which the high priest seeks atonement first for
himself, then for the order of priests and finally for the community as a
whole. Likewise, "that night Jesus addressed the Father at the moment in
which He offered Himself. He, priest and victim, prayed for Himself, for the
Apostles and for all those who would believe in Him".
The prayer which Jesus prays for Himself is the request for His own
glorification. "It is in fact more than a request", the Holy Father said,
"it is a declaration of willingness to enter freely and generously into the
Father's plan, which is accomplished through death and resurrection. ...
Jesus begins His priestly prayer by saying: 'Father, the hour has come;
glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you'. The glorification Jesus
seeks for Himself, as High Priest, is to be fully obedient to the Father, an
obedience which leads Him to fulfil His filial status: 'So now, Father,
glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence
before the world existed'".
The second part of Jesus' prayer is His intercession for the disciples who
have followed Him, and His request that they may be sanctified. Jesus says:
'They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
Sanctify them in the truth'. Benedict XVI explained how "To sanctify means
to transfer something - a person or an object - to God. This involves two
complementary aspects: on the one hand, the idea of 'segregation' ... from
man's personal life in order to be completely given over to God; on the
other hand there is the idea of 'being sent out', of mission. Having been
given to God, the consecrated thing or person exists for others. ... A
person is sanctified when, like Jesus, he is segregated from the world, set
aside for God in view of a task and, for this reason, available for
everyone. For disciples this means continuing Jesus' mission".
In the third phase of the priestly prayer, "Jesus asks the Father to
intervene in favour of all those who will be brought to the faith by the
mission inaugurated by the Apostles. ... 'I ask not only on behalf of these,
but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word'. ...
Jesus prays for the Church in all times, He also prays for us. ... The main
element in Jesus' priestly prayer for His disciples is His request for the
future unity of those who will believe in Him. This unity is not a worldly
achievement. It derives exclusively from divine unity and comes down to us
from the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit".
By this priestly prayer Jesus establishes the Church, "which is nothing
other than the community of disciples who, through their faith in Christ as
the One sent by the Father, receive His unity and are involved in Jesus'
mission to save the world by leading it to a knowledge of God".
Benedict XVI invited the faithful to read and meditate upon Jesus priestly
prayer, and to pray to God themselves, asking Him "to help us enter fully
into the plan He has for each of us. Let us ask Him to consecrate us to
Himself, that we may belong to Him and show increasing love for others, both
near and far. Let us ask Him to help us open our prayers to the world, not
limiting them to requests for help in our own problems, but remembering our
fellow man before the Lord and learning the beauty of interceding for
others. Let us ask Him for the gift of visible unity among all those who
believe in Christ, ... that we may be ready to respond to anyone who asks us
about the reasons for our hope".
At the end of his audience, Benedict XVI delivered greetings in various
languages to the pilgrims and faithful gathered in the Paul VI Hall,
reminding them that today's Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul marks the
end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Addressing Polish faithful he
said: "The conversion of the Apostle of the Gentiles near Damascus is proof
that, in the final analysis, it is God Himself Who decides the destiny of
His Church. Let us ask Him for the grace of unity, which also requires our
individual conversion, while remaining faithful to the truth and love of
God".
VATICAN CITY, 25 JAN 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI dedicated his catechesis
during this morning's general audience to Christ's priestly prayer during
the Last Supper, as narrated in chapter 17 of the Gospel of St. John. In
order to understand this prayer "in all its immense richness", said the
Pope, it is important to see it in the context of the Jewish feast of
atonement, Yom Kippur, in which the high priest seeks atonement first for
himself, then for the order of priests and finally for the community as a
whole. Likewise, "that night Jesus addressed the Father at the moment in
which He offered Himself. He, priest and victim, prayed for Himself, for the
Apostles and for all those who would believe in Him".
The prayer which Jesus prays for Himself is the request for His own
glorification. "It is in fact more than a request", the Holy Father said,
"it is a declaration of willingness to enter freely and generously into the
Father's plan, which is accomplished through death and resurrection. ...
Jesus begins His priestly prayer by saying: 'Father, the hour has come;
glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you'. The glorification Jesus
seeks for Himself, as High Priest, is to be fully obedient to the Father, an
obedience which leads Him to fulfil His filial status: 'So now, Father,
glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence
before the world existed'".
The second part of Jesus' prayer is His intercession for the disciples who
have followed Him, and His request that they may be sanctified. Jesus says:
'They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
Sanctify them in the truth'. Benedict XVI explained how "To sanctify means
to transfer something - a person or an object - to God. This involves two
complementary aspects: on the one hand, the idea of 'segregation' ... from
man's personal life in order to be completely given over to God; on the
other hand there is the idea of 'being sent out', of mission. Having been
given to God, the consecrated thing or person exists for others. ... A
person is sanctified when, like Jesus, he is segregated from the world, set
aside for God in view of a task and, for this reason, available for
everyone. For disciples this means continuing Jesus' mission".
In the third phase of the priestly prayer, "Jesus asks the Father to
intervene in favour of all those who will be brought to the faith by the
mission inaugurated by the Apostles. ... 'I ask not only on behalf of these,
but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word'. ...
Jesus prays for the Church in all times, He also prays for us. ... The main
element in Jesus' priestly prayer for His disciples is His request for the
future unity of those who will believe in Him. This unity is not a worldly
achievement. It derives exclusively from divine unity and comes down to us
from the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit".
By this priestly prayer Jesus establishes the Church, "which is nothing
other than the community of disciples who, through their faith in Christ as
the One sent by the Father, receive His unity and are involved in Jesus'
mission to save the world by leading it to a knowledge of God".
Benedict XVI invited the faithful to read and meditate upon Jesus priestly
prayer, and to pray to God themselves, asking Him "to help us enter fully
into the plan He has for each of us. Let us ask Him to consecrate us to
Himself, that we may belong to Him and show increasing love for others, both
near and far. Let us ask Him to help us open our prayers to the world, not
limiting them to requests for help in our own problems, but remembering our
fellow man before the Lord and learning the beauty of interceding for
others. Let us ask Him for the gift of visible unity among all those who
believe in Christ, ... that we may be ready to respond to anyone who asks us
about the reasons for our hope".
At the end of his audience, Benedict XVI delivered greetings in various
languages to the pilgrims and faithful gathered in the Paul VI Hall,
reminding them that today's Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul marks the
end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Addressing Polish faithful he
said: "The conversion of the Apostle of the Gentiles near Damascus is proof
that, in the final analysis, it is God Himself Who decides the destiny of
His Church. Let us ask Him for the grace of unity, which also requires our
individual conversion, while remaining faithful to the truth and love of
God".
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