May 19, 2026
Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Gospel: John 17:1–11a

Today is Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter. Once again, the Church invites us to revisit the prayer that Jesus offered to the Father before His Passion. Since this Gospel passage was already proclaimed on the Seventh Sunday of Easter this year, I would like to offer some further reflections.

First, the “glory” mentioned by Jesus (cf. John 17:1–2, 5) carries a twofold meaning. The first refers to Jesus asking the Father to glorify Him so that He may conquer death and rise from the dead, revealing to the world the radiance of His divine nature. The second meaning points to the glory that existed with the Father before the world began is the Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation, the Holy Spirit whom the Father and the Son eternally breathe forth.

Second, the “hour” spoken of by Jesus (cf. John 17:1, 7, 11) also holds two senses. The first is the hour of His arrest, as recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, when Judas betrayed Jesus and led the chief priests and elders with their men to seize Him in Gethsemane, and the disciples fled (cf. Matthew 26:47–56). The other sense is the hour of His departure from this world, as we meditated upon during the recent celebration of the Ascension.

Finally, Jesus speaks of the relationship between Christians and the world (cf. John 17:9, 11a). Through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, received in Baptism and united to Christ, and sealed with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Christians become children of God. The Father has chosen them from the world; from the moment they left their mother’s womb, they have experienced the goodness of His creation. Yet now, as children of God, though they still live in this world, they have entered into the world of God. Only when they truly accept and understand the relationship between Jesus and the Father, believe firmly that the Father sent the Son, and welcome the Paraclete whom the Father sends in the name of the Son—only then do they fully belong to God.

As we approach the Solemnity of Pentecost, let us pray together:

Grant, we pray, almighty and merciful God,
that the Holy Spirit, coming near
and dwelling graciously within us,
may make of us a perfect temple of his glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica