In John 17, Jesus prays for himself, for His disciples, and for all believers. From that prayer we can derive five beautiful principles to live by.
- Deepen your true knowledge of God.
3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
The Bible is able to create a deep daily and permanent personal relationship with God. When you read from the Bible, you read what God has said, and you feel his presence. Every word in the Bible comes with great strength. Through reading the Bible, you will deepen your true knowledge of God.
- Test the strength of a life of prayer.
9 “I pray for them.”
With prayer you become responsible for the world. Everything in this creation is entrusted to man; the environment and all God’s gifts therein are entrusted to man. This is why we are responsible to pray on behalf of everyone, everything, all those who are going through hardships, famine, and natural disasters. Prayers raised from the heart will not be in vain. Raised hands always find God who responds and listens. Whether God immediately responds or not, trust that He is doing it for your own good. Pray with the confidence of knowing that God will respond somehow and in someway.
- Fill your life and the life of those around you with joy.
13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
If the first two aspects are in order; your true knowledge of God, and a life of prayer, then the third step is to fill your life and the life of those around you with joy. Make others happy with your smile, your manners, your vision, your call, your presence, your visit, and your concern about them. It is an important responsibility we have to bring happiness and joy into other people’s lives. Do not use harsh words, do not look at others without compassion, do not accuse others, or reveal other’s shortcomings. Instead, spread joy with your presence. Make your natural attitude a cheerful one. Joy is not related to poverty or richness. Nor is happiness related to education or illiteracy. Joy comes from within when you attain the first two steps of knowing God, and leading a life of prayer.
- Sanctify yourself with honesty in every field.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
Live a life of complete faithfulness. Sanctify yourself for your family, for your job, for your education, for your ministry, in your prayer, in society, in your homeland, and for all of humanity. Be faithful in all matters. When a person abides by this commandment, he or she will walk down the path of sanctity. “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10) Be faithful in all your life and in everything you do.
- Make peace and sow love.
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
Be one with others. With your family, with your friends, with your co-workers. Be unified and be a peacemaker. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matt. 5:9) Be careful with what you say, so not to hurt others and create peace. Before participating in any discussion, think about how to make peace. A person needs to think positively and he needs to make peace around himself. Society will be unified when we make peace. We need this unity in our lives and we need to be aware of division and partition.
– Summary and Excerpts from a sermon by Pope Tawadros II, his prayers be with us.
Chrism 