SEDL: Hold On

Grace: Lord God, may I always have the assurance that the Spirit of Jesus will hold me fast and carry me home.

Scriptural Reading:

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth” (Jn 17:11-19).

Points for Reflection:

1. On a recent shuttle mission in outer space, one of the astronauts had to make repairs on the outside of the spacecraft. He had to float free in space, held only by a tether to the ship. In such a situation of utter dependence, I would have a hard time being confident enough in the connection that was keeping me from floating off into oblivion.

If you have ever had the sense of being detached from God and sailing off to who knows where, then you know how much you can want the assurance of being connected. The Spirit is that connection and gives us a feeling of safety.

But the Spirit of Jesus is not the same thing as absolute certainty. As human beings aware of our predicament and our complete dependence on God, it’s hard sometimes to be confident enough in God’s love and mercy. I waver, and I wonder (Mark Neilsen).

2. Recall a significant moment, or two, in your life that you wavered in your confidence in God's love and mercy. What happened? What feelings surface as you recall it, or them?

3. Recall a significant moment, or two, in your life that you were grippingly conviced of God's love and mercy. What happened? What feelings surface as you recall it, or them?

4. Bring both to prayer and talk it over with your God. Share with your God both moments of wavering and gripping conviction. Listen to God's response.

5. End with the prayer for generosity.