The Hour Has Come

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. ‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. John 17:1-8

As we begin Lent this year, there is much worry fear and anxiety. The war in the Ukraine, the war in Palestine and our divided country as we face a presidential election, all weigh heavy on our hearts. Added to those fears are the acts of senseless violence on our streets. Many are fearful and isolated, at a loss to know how to respond. Our Gospel today invites us into the intimate relationship between Jesus and God as part of the family of God, belonging before we ever understood it. As Lent begins, we are invited to dive deep into the waters of baptism, to know ourselves as children of the living God, and examine our lives as we serve others. Noone is outside the love of God and everyone belongs to our Creator.

Precious Savior, you spoke the truth

as the living earthly presence of the Creator

you stood among us, teaching us who we are

the beloved children of the living God.

We stray far from home and your family

we are impatient with waiting and prayer

we think we can survive on our skills

and find ourselves lost, fearful and alone.

Gather us up, dear Jesus, like small children

remind us of your constancy and great love

help us to behave as your beloved family

making your love a gift to our broken world. Amen.