Readings: Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 97; Apocalypse 22:12-14, 16-17, 20; John 17:20-26
Grace and peace to you, my beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord. Today, on this Seventh Sunday of Easter, our final Sunday before Pentecost, we are invited into a sacred space within the heart of Christ. The Gospel today offers a portion of what is often called the “priestly prayer” of Jesus – a holy conversation between the Son and the Father. This is not a parable or a teaching. It is a moment of divine intimacy, and we are invited to listen in.
As Jesus prepares to return to the Father, He lifts up His eyes and prays—not only for His disciples, but for all of us. It is a prayer not of instruction, but of intercession – a window into the eternal desires of the Lord’s heart.
In 2019, we reflected on “That they may be one”—a prayer for unity, not uniformity. In 2022, we considered the profound bond between the Father and the Son as a model for our own communion. This year, I am drawn to a single line from Christ’s prayer, a sacred longing that deserves our deepest reflection:
“Father, I want those You have given me to be with me where I am.” (John 17:24)
These are not ordinary words. They unveil the deepest desire of the Lord Jesus: that we may be with Him; not just in a general sense, but in a real, personal, and eternal union.
Jesus does not merely want us to be saved, to be good, or even to be holy. He wants us to be with Him—to dwell where He dwells, to abide in His presence, to share in His joy.
What does it mean to be with Jesus where He is? I invite you to reflect on five ways Christ draws us into this sacred union:
I. Adoration – To Dwell in His Presence
Jesus desires our presence in His presence. Adoration is the ministry of angels, and He longs that it may become ours too. When we kneel in silence before the Blessed Sacrament—watching, praying, listening, loving—we fulfil the longing of Christ’s heart. We are with Him.
St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote:
“Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us.”
Adoration is not about doing. It is about being. And in that being, we enter into deep communion.
II. Faithfulness – A Bond Nothing Can Break
To be with Jesus means to remain with Him, even in suffering, even in silence, even in the shadows.
Stephen, in the First Reading, shows us this. Even as stones fell upon him, he looked up and saw heaven open. He remained with Christ in love and in suffering.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35)
True intimacy is tested by trial. Faithfulness is how we choose, again and again, to remain in Christ.
III. United in Will – One in Desire and Obedience
The deepest intimacy with Jesus comes not from shared space, but shared will. He desires that we be one with Him, just as He is one with the Father.
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)
To be with Him means to let go of our self-will and say with Mary, “Be it done to me according to your word.” It is in surrender that we come closest to Christ.
IV. Communion of Love – Drawn Closer by Divine Affection
Love brings souls together. Jesus prays that we may experience the love He shares with the Father. In that love, we are united—heart to heart.
St. Augustine, talking of how love unites two souls, says, “Love is the beauty of the soul. It makes two hearts one, not by fusion, but by harmony.”
St. Thomas Aquinas: “Love is a unitive force: it makes the beloved present in the lover, and the lover in the beloved.”
Fulton J. Sheen: “Love makes two persons one in purpose, one in spirit, and one in heart.”
To love Jesus is not only to serve Him, but to live in union with Him—daily, deeply, devotedly.
In today’s Second Reading, He reminds us: “Behold, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:12). He longs to bring us home. But are we preparing ourselves for His return? Or are we growing comfortable in a world of noise, distraction, and sin?
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, Your heart’s desire is that we may be with You where You are. Draw us into Your presence through adoration. Keep us faithful in trial and steadfast in love. Unite our will to Yours, that we may walk in joyful obedience. Make us one in spirit, one in purpose, and one in heart with you. Above all, prepare us for the eternal joy of Your presence.
Come, Lord Jesus, and lead us home to You.
Amen.
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on June 1, 2025