The Prayer That Changes Everything
Jesus, knowing His time has come, lifts His eyes to heaven and has what might be the most important conversation in human history. It's not a casual chat - this is Jesus talking to His Father about glory, eternal life, and us. In John 17:1-11a, we witness something very powerful: the Son of God essentially pulling back the curtain on the divine relationship and showing us what real glory looks like. But here's the beautiful twist - this glory isn't about golden crowns or earthly power. It's about love so complete that it transforms everything it touches, including us ordinary folks trying to figure out how to live faithfully in a world that often seems upside down.
What strikes me most about this passage is how Jesus defines eternal life: "that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." Notice He doesn't say "believe in" or "think about" - He says "know." This is the difference between knowing about your favorite saint and actually having coffee with them every morning. Jesus is inviting us into a relationship so intimate and real that it literally becomes our eternal life, starting right now, not just after we die. As Catholics, we understand this isn't just intellectual knowledge - it's the kind of knowing that happens when we encounter Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, in prayer, in Scripture, and in our neighbor who desperately needs someone to listen to their troubles.
The really fascinating part comes when Jesus talks about glorifying God "by accomplishing the work you gave me to do." Think about it - Jesus' idea of glory is finishing His assignment from the Father. How refreshingly different from our world's obsession with fame, fortune, and having the most followers on social media! In my eye, all those worldly obsessions are a complete waste of time. Jesus shows us that true glory comes from faithful obedience, from saying yes to whatever God asks of us, whether that's changing diapers at 3 AM, visiting a lonely elderly neighbor, or simply showing patience in the grocery store line. Every act of love, no matter how small it seems, participates in the same divine glory that Jesus speaks about in this prayer.
Here's where it gets exciting for us as His followers: Jesus prays for His disciples to be "one, as we are one." This isn't just a nice sentiment about getting along - it's an invitation into the very life of the Trinity. When we choose to follow Jesus authentically, we're not just joining a club or following rules; we're being drawn into the eternal love between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This means that every time we choose forgiveness over resentment, service over selfishness, or hope over cynicism, we're actually participating in divine life itself. The beautiful thing is, you don't need a theology degree or perfect behavior to start - you just need to say yes to Jesus today, in whatever small way He's calling you, and trust that He's already praying for you by name.
Following Jesus Authentically
Here's the thing about authentic faith - it's like trying to use a fake ID at the gates of heaven. It simply won't work, and frankly, why would we want it to? Jesus calls us to follow Him genuinely because He knows that half-hearted discipleship is like trying to swim across the ocean - you'll end up drowning along the way. The world constantly whispers that we can have it both ways: follow Jesus on Sundays and follow our own desires, and sin the rest of the week. But as Catholics, we understand that this kind of spiritual schizophrenia doesn't lead to the abundant life Jesus Christ promises; instead, it leads us further from the very eternity our hearts are designed for. The sobering truth is that choosing worldly misdirection over authentic discipleship doesn't just affect our happiness here - it greatly risks our eternal destiny, and that possibility should make us take our faith seriously without becoming paralyzed by fear.
The beautiful urgency of the Gospel is that we have right now, today, this moment, to choose an authentic relationship with Jesus. We don't know if we have fifty years or fifty minutes left on this earth, and that's actually a gift, not a curse. It means every day is an opportunity to love more deeply, forgive more freely, and follow more closely. Your bank account won't negotiate with death, it means nothing in eternity; your perfect health won't bargain for more time, it means nothing in eternity; and your impressive résumé won't impress the One who already knows every hair on your head, it means nothing in eternity. What matters is whether we're building our lives on the solid rock of authentic faith or the shifting sands of worldly approval. The Catholic understanding of faith isn't just about avoiding hell, though that's certainly important - it's about embracing the fullness of life that comes from genuine union with Jesus Christ.
So, how do we follow Jesus authentically? It starts with honest prayer, regular participation in the sacraments, and the daily choice to put His will before our own convenience. It means loving the unlovable person at work, forgiving the family member who hurt us, and choosing generosity over greed even when no one is watching. Authentic discipleship isn't about perfection - it's about direction. Every time we choose Christ over comfort, love over selfishness, and truth over popularity, we're building an eternal foundation that no earthly power can shake. The invitation is simple but not easy: follow Jesus with your whole heart, not just the parts that feel convenient, because eternity is a long time to regret settling for a counterfeit faith when the real thing was always available.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
