Gospel
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,
“Father, the hour has come.
Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people,
so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth
by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.
Now glorify me, Father, with you,
with the glory that I had with you before the world began.
“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world.
They belonged to you, and you gave them to me,
and they have kept your word.
Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,
because the words you gave to me I have given to them,
and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you,
and they have believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me,
because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours
and everything of yours is mine,
and I have been glorified in them.
And now I will no longer be in the world,
but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.”
We belong to Jesus Christ. He belongs to us. We no longer belong to that country or this group of men. We belong only to Jesus Christ. We can certainly join and be active whether it is our nation or our social group. As long as our relationship with Jesus Christ stands first and foremost in our hearts and actions.
Therefore, we ought to live for Jesus Christ and be that light for others. For we are members of his body, of which he is the head.
The body does the will of the head for it would be foolish and end badly to do otherwise.
When people see God as just another option they are being deceived by the ruler of this world and they are not part of the body. They are not those who were given to Jesus as his own. But it’s not too late.
St Paul in our first reading was part of the body and a leader who proclaimed the faith across many cities. In this first reading he is nearing the end of his time on earth. This Saint who began his life persecuting Jesus is part of this same body we are. So we should not fear for our old ways and old life. For we are forgiven and now we are asked to pick up our cross. Pick up where Paul leads us to share our faith and the good news with others. For those who were chosen and belong can do nothing else.
Let’s remember who we belong to today. And with joy in our hearts proclaim him by our lives of faith and worship.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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