Readings:
Acts 20:28-38
John 17:11-19
Reflection:
Someone came up to me and asked if her daughter would be lost. She explained that her daughter no longer practises her faith publicly, and it seems to her that her daughter is far from God and cannot be saved in God’s name anymore. At first encounter, it was a tricky question for me personally because I was born in a catholic family and village. We keep practising our faith even though we face persecution and difficulties.
After that, I realised our God is a God of grace, not reward. God is merciful and loving, not judgmental.
In the Gospel, Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and had a beautiful conversation with his Father. He asked nothing for himself but for others, especially his followers. He prayed that everyone may be one in God’s name. In God’s name, everyone will be saved, and no one will be lost. It sounds like “sola gratia” – only grace, as everyone is predestined to be saved. It is nearly impossible that there will be those who choose to be lost.
In the light of the resurrection, the focus is not on the lost one but on everyone united in God’s name. Jesus’s prayer acknowledges the possibility of the ‘lost one’ as the freedom God gives to the human being. While we are still in the world, we can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’; however, in the last ‘hour’, I do not think anyone can turn away from God’s Love. I trust that we will say ‘yes’ in response to God when we encounter God face to face because Jesus has come and shared joy with us to the fullest.
JD Tân T CP is a Vietnamese Passionist who lives and studies further at the Holy Cross Retreat, Templestowe.