Meditation on Today's Gospel-

From the Divine Liturgy of the Thursday in Pentecost Week
First Reading: Acts 21: 15-26
Gospel Reading: John 17: 13-16

"I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one."
John 17: 15, ESV

Today in this portion from the High Priestly prayer of our Messiah, we hear the words that so often cause us trouble and concern... we are not to be taken out of the world, simply preserved - protected - from the enemy.

Today the enemy walks among us in many deceptive ways. He comes among us as the preacher promising miracles in exchange for gospel comprimises and personal financial gain. He comes among us as the too-good-to-be-true doctrine that warms our hearts for a season, but that erodes for an eternity. The enemy invades pulpits, altars, and congregations across the nation and around the world... and we permit it to occur, even encouraging it at times.

In the world today we suffer greatly because we exchange our priceless faith for a tarnished, worldly faith - one with no power to save. This is the great deception of Satan. So many people pray to be removed from the world in the day of tribulation, and yet Christ prays not for our removal but for our faithfulness.

How do we, then, choose to respond?

Will we respond in the grace of God bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus, or will we exchange our incorruptable inheritance for the corruption and lies of the enemy?

For my part, I pray that I will keep the faith of the Scriptures in the company of the fathers of our faith. I hope you will choose the same, firmly trusting that our Lord's prayer from which we read today is intended to all who have been called according to his purpose.

May peace be upon you as you read Christ's holy Gospel this day and always.

Father Rob