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
May 18, 2026 Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of Saint John I, Pope, Martyr Gospel: John 16:29-33
Today is Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter. The Church celebrates the memorial of the martyrdom of Pope Saint John I. The passage from the Gospel of John continues the words of Jesus’ farewell discourse to His disciples before His Passion. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.
The disciples said to Jesus, “Now You are speaking plainly, without figures of speech. Now we know that You know all things and do not need anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God” (cf. John 16:29-30). They spoke these words because they believed Jesus knew everything—and even expected Him to meet their needs by fighting for them and conquering the Romans.
We can be the same way. Many brothers and sisters living in our parishes often tell non-believers: “Believe in Jesus and you will receive eternal life; if you do not believe in Him, God will punish you severely.” Because God is all-knowing, they present the Church founded by God as one that harshly demands strict adherence to divine law. This is absolutely not the God revealed by Jesus. Rather, it is a god we have created based on our own interests—a god identical to the one imagined by the Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests, Herodians, scribes, and elders of the people in Jesus’ time.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to His disciples, “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me alone” (cf. John 16:32). Jesus speaks of this “hour” with two meanings. The first refers to the time of His arrest. As recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, when Judas betrayed Jesus and led the men sent by the chief priests and elders to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, all the apostles fled and deserted Him (cf. Matt 26:47-56). The second meaning points to every time we sin against Him. Whenever we sin and offend Him, we act like those disciples—turning away from Him and fleeing back to what we consider a place of safety.
Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of the martyrdom of Pope Saint John I. When he saw the people of God being persecuted by an heretical king, Pope Saint John I faithfully fulfilled his mission as the Successor of Peter, bearing witness to Christ. Even while imprisoned in a dungeon, he remained faithful to God and ultimately died there on May 18, 526. Let us imitate the example of this holy Pope: to be faithful to Christ and to fulfill our own vocation in a manner worthy of it.
May the power of the Holy Spirit come to us, we pray, O Lord, that we may keep your will faithfully in mind and express it in a devout way of life. 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
May 17, 2026 Seventh Sunday of Easter Gospel: John 17:1-11A
Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter. The passage from the Gospel of John presents the first part of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, offered to the Father before His Passion.
Jesus raised His eyes to heaven and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on earth by finishing the work You gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.” (cf. John 17:1-5)
The “hour” mentioned by Jesus carries a twofold meaning. First, it refers to the hour of His arrest, as recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, when Judas betrayed Jesus, leading the chief priests and elders to seize Him in Gethsemane, and the disciples fled. (cf. Matt 26:47-56) The second meaning points to His departure from this world, as we reflected upon during the recent celebration of the Ascension.
The “glory” Jesus speaks of also holds two dimensions. First, He asks the Father to glorify Him through His victory over death in the Resurrection, manifesting His divine nature in radiant splendor. Second, there is the glory “before the world began”—the glory He shared with the Father from eternity. This glory is none other than the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God who hovered over the waters at creation, proceeding from the Father and the Son.
The Holy Spirit abides continually in the Church, accompanying her and bestowing diverse graces. When we are in need of healing, He grants us comfort through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. When we seek reconciliation with God, He enlightens us, guiding our examination of conscience, that we may be well-disposed to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, restoring our relationship with God and neighbor, and granting true peace and joy. He does not speak on His own authority, but teaches us, reminding us of all that Jesus has spoken.
Graciously hear our supplications, O Lord, so that we, who believe that the Savior of the human race is with you in your glory, may experience, as he promised, until the end of the world, his abiding presence among us. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
全属于祢 
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