As I have mentioned before in these blogs, St. John's Gospel was written so much later than the synoptic Gospels. As a result, the material covered by St. John reflects the thinking and reflection of a later Christian community, a community which has had the luxury of time during which it has reflected on the birth, life, ministry, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. By the time this Gospel was written, most if not all of the eyewitnesses to Jesus' life have died and followed in the footsteps of Jesus. These men and women believed in Jesus, but their faith did not come from personal experience. Their faith was born of what they heard from others.
Chapter seventeen of the Gospel, from which we read today, makes an explicit reference to the latter day believers. St. John goes out of his way to include such believers in several ways. Today, Jesus is heard praying for them. The wonderful thing about this is that we, who live thousands of years later, are included in that community. We, too, have come to believe because of what we have heard from others. Consequently, we hear Jesus praying for us today.
This is why the preaching ministry of the Church is so important. People come to faith through hearing the Word of God. What sometimes boggles my imagination is the fact that some people in today's world never hear the Gospel. This fact engenders two thoughts as I reflect on this Gospel passage. First, I am moved to a sense of gratitude that the Gospel is such an important part of my life. I am grateful that I have heard God's Word. Second, I am also convinced of my vocation to spread that Good News in everything I say and do. Even if, as is the case for many CUSANS, all I can do is be patient in the midst of pain and frustration, God's Word is eloquently making itself known in my willingness to suffer for a purpose.