I Glorified You on Earth

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

By Melanie Rigney

(Paul told the presbyters at Ephesus when he left for Jerusalem:) “What will happen to me there I do not know, except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:22-24)

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. (Psalm 68:33a)

(Jesus prayed to the Father:) “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.” (John 17:3-4)

Piety

Lord, your way is hard. Some of the temptations in my life are so alluring. Hold my hand so that I may rededicate myself to what You, not I, desire.

Study

Jesus’ prayer before his Passion begins isn’t a litany of the number of followers he amassed or the number of people he fed, healed, or raised from the dead. He simply states that he did what the Lord asked.

Similarly, Paul in today’s first reading doesn’t ask the presbyters for guards or other earthly support for yet another trip to Jerusalem. He acknowledges he’s not sure what’s going to happen there… and then, goes on to say the goal, that of bearing witness, is what matters, not the amount of time or comfort he is granted along the way.

In this world, the temptation to blow our own horn surrounds us. After all, if we don’t tell the world about what a marvelous project manager, translator, supervisor, writer, or photographer we are, we may not get that promotion, adulation, or other recognition we feel we deserve. May we remember that the Lord isn’t looking for the most impressive resumes. He’s looking for souls who love Him… and want to bring others to the Kingdom.

Action

When you pray today, don’t tell God all the marvelous things you’ve done for Him. After all, He already knows anyway. Instead, ask for the strength to do what He desires you to do tomorrow.