Friends, ever wonder about your recall? Why do we remember certain things while others things we forget? I suppose psychologists can wax on this subject for hours on end but for certain, I wonder about it from time to time.
There are some things we can forget that are trivial while others are of great importance, foundational things that, for me, can be not so much annoying as deflating. There are certain truths that I believe that do not stick with me, they don't stay with me but I need reminders (like mental Post-it Notes). If I am going to fulfill my purpose in this life I need these canons.
One such canon or fundamental principle of faith is contained in today's Gospel (Jn 17:11-19) and it is this; Jesus prays for us.
It isn't that Jesus PRAYED for us, though that too would certainly be important to know, but that He continually prays for us.
Jesus expressly and openly prayed to His Father in Heaven that we not be taken out of the world but that God will KEEP us from the Evil One. There is no limiter on this prayer from Jesus to God for us since God is outside of time. We must note, too, that Jesus gives credence to what the world does not want to acknowledge; that the Devil seeks our demise and is envious of the relationship we have with God, however true or dutiful that relationship may be.
The subject above, blissfulness, is achievable in this life for we have Jesus praying for us. In Psalm 89 we read that the source of our bliss is the justice of God. To be blissful is not ignorance but a focus on the power of God and His Truths. He invites us into His community of love every moment of every day. To resist that invitation takes some effort. To be blissful is reliance upon God.
Anxiety and stress can keep us from recalling that the power of God is at work for us. Calling to mind that we are not merely some insignificant creatures that God forgets about or has forgotten about totally but rather by His creating us and by our Baptism we are privileged to be among His chosen. We can and should rely on our Father in all things. He protects us.
The Devil is a liar. God wins. That dear friends, is blissfulness!
