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“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.” John 17:9–10

Though the Church has traditionally summarized sin under the seven capital sins, sin is also understood to arise from three primary sources: the flesh, the world, and the devil. The “flesh” refers to the disordered desires and passions that stem from our fallen human nature. The “world” signifies the societal values, materialism, and secular ideologies that promote a lifestyle contrary to God’s will. The “devil” represents the personal, spiritual adversary who seeks to lead us astray through deception, lies, and the stirring of sinful desires. These three sources constantly seek to undermine our relationship with God.

We are called to resist these temptations and remain firm in faith. This is accomplished by relying on grace to silence these sources. The flesh is subdued and moderated by the virtue of temperance, the devil is overcome as we discern the voice of God, and the world is overcome by seeking the true glory to which we are called. It is this third source, and its remedy, that Jesus particularly addresses in today’s passage.

This prayer concludes Jesus’ Last Supper Discourse and is prayed just before He goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, where His Passion begins with His arrest. These final words of Jesus encapsulate the ultimate purpose of life. Within this prayer, He prays to His Father, “Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began” (John 17:5).

From a human perspective, we naturally desire glory. However, from a worldly perspective, earthly “glory” is a temptation, as it leads us to seek the praise of creatures over the glory that God desires to bestow. Jesus does not dismiss the value of glory; He simply points to its true source—the Father. Jesus’ glory does not originate from human praise. His glory stems from His perfect fulfillment of the Father’s will, offering Himself as the one and only Sacrifice for sins. Through His Passion, He is glorified by the Father in His human nature and manifests the glory He has always enjoyed as the eternal Son of God. He will continue to manifest this glory for all eternity.

Though Jesus begins this prayer for Himself, He quickly includes “the ones you have given me”—His disciples, and ultimately, everyone who will come to believe in Him through them, including us. His prayer is for all who are united to Jesus and the Father, pointing out that Jesus is glorified in them because they fulfill His will and continue His mission, which results in our participation in His eternal glory.

This passage beautifully illustrates that the attainment of worldly glory and recognition pales in comparison to the true glory we are invited to share. We are called to participate in Jesus’ own glory, the eternal glory He shares with the Father. We do this by being united to Him in His earthly mission of living sacrificial love, which manifests His glory—the true glory for which we long.

Reflect today on your natural desire for glory. God places this desire in us, but the values of the fallen world tempt us to seek a passing glory bestowed by others’ opinions. The only way to fulfill the desire for true glory is to unite ourselves to Christ, including His Passion and death, so as to receive the glory bestowed upon Him by the Father. This is why martyrdom, the ultimate act of sacrificial love, is considered glorious. It is the highest expression of participation in Christ’s own suffering, which manifested His glory. Sacrifice, selflessness, virtue, and perfect conformity to Christ all lead us into this eternal glory. Living transformed in Christ bestows that glory here and now. When we die, we will enjoy forever in heaven the level of glory we participated in on earth. Seek glory—true glory—and you will find that your natural desires are fulfilled by supernatural grace.

Lord of all glory, with Your Father, You are eternally glorified, and the glory bestowed upon You by the Father from all eternity shines forth. You invite us to share in Your glory by sharing in the earthly means by which that glory was manifested—Your Passion. May I always seek this holy and pure glory above that which the world offers, so as to share in it forever in Heaven with You and all the saints. Jesus, I trust in You.

Image: The last supper via Adobe Stock

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