Today's Gospel (Jn 17:1-11a):  Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, «Father, the hour has come; give glory to your Son, that the Son may give glory to you. You have given him power over all mortals, and you want him to bring eternal life to all you have entrusted to him. For this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the One you sent, Jesus Christ. I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do.

»Now, Father, give me in your presence the same Glory I had with you before the world began. I have made your name known to those you gave me from the world. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they kept your word. And now they know that all you have given me comes indeed from you. I have given them the teaching I received from you, and they received it and know in truth that I came from you; and they believe that you have sent me.

»I pray for them; I do not pray for the world but for those who belong to you and whom you have given to me -indeed all I have is yours and all you have is mine- and now they are my glory. I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world whereas I am going to you. Holy Father, keep them in your Name (that you have given me,) so that they may be one, just as we are».

Today, Jesus speaks to us of the Glory He and the Father shared before the world began and that He has made known to mankind through his death and resurrection; this same glory He wants to share with us, his disciples. A few days ago we were celebrating the Ascension of our Lord, and in the short interval from the Ascension to the Pentecost, we are being invited to ponder over what Jesus taught us with his life and to pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as the apostles did too. Jesus is always the example for us to follow: «I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do» (Jn 17:4); we, the members of the Church, have, in our world, to carry on with this very work.

Jesus Christ, who came from the Father to accomplish the mission the Father had entrusted him with, that is, the mankind's redemption, was known by his disciples thanks to the fact they had been able to share their life with the Lord, through a deep, personal relationship with him. For the disciples there was no doubt who Jesus was, the Son of God made man: «they know in truth that I came from you; and they believe that you have sent me» (Jn 17:8). Are we so confident?, is our faith so unyielding? Thanks to this faith, we, Jesus' disciples, shall share his Glory, which must always be our craving. St Ignatius of Loyola recommends us: «If you love the Glory, look for it in the only true one, which is God».

Jesus is glorified and returns to the Father; however, He will not leave us alone and He will send the Holy Spirit to us. Jesus Christ, who pleads for his disciples, will always be present in the Church, He will compel us to go on with his work and He will help us amidst the difficulties we shall find in this world.