Jesus’ Prayer!

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Acts 20: 17-27; Jn 17: 1-11a

Today’s Gospel highlights Jesus praying for his own glorification, his disciples, and the future believers. 

Often known as the ‘High Priestly Prayer,’ this prayer shows Jesus faithfully accomplishing his mission on earth and now being ready to depart this world to ascend to his Father. 

It is beautiful to find that when his ‘hour’ came (for his passion, death, and resurrection), Jesus started praying and upheld others in prayer. We must remember that Jesus continues in the spirit of ‘Thy will be done’ by manifesting his trust and obedience and not by seeking to avoid the cross.

Several aspects of Jesus’ prayer need highlighting for further reflection and action.

1. Jesus prays for glorification. Here, glory does not mean success, admiration, or victory. Instead, it is revealed through his sacrifice. For Jesus, the cross was not punishment but the revelation of God’s ultimate love. Jesus teaches us that when united to God’s will, our suffering gives us meaning and purpose. 

2. Jesus’ prayer also highlights eternal life. Jesus says, ‘This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’ Knowing God is to relate with Him and find oneself in communion with Him. Not knowing God’s love and staying away from communion with God are modern forms of poverty.

3. While Jesus prays for his disciples, he prays for their unity. Jesus prays, ‘Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name…so that they may be one as we are one.’ We are Christians only if we are united with each other in love. If Christ became the center of our lives, we would never experience divided loyalty or love. 

Let us pray that the contents of Jesus’ prayer may become true in our lives. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar