We speak of our Savior in his lifetime as Jesus. He prayed that we might see him in his glory as Christ.

Thursday, 5/16/13

Before going out to the Garden of Olives, and before going out to his death, Jesus prayed for he Apostles surrounding him. But then he looked over their heads, and looking down through the years, he said, “I pray not only for these, but for all who will come to believe.”

He saw us then, and he prayed for us just as he prayed for the Apostles. And what he asked for them and for us was that we might see his glory.

For me, at least, seeing his glory means the ability to relate to him as he is now in glory. Many holy souls have their religious fulfillment in over-and-over whispering the name Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. But we can wonder why St. Paul never spoke of Jesus, but always of Christ. He said, “I live, now not I, but Christ lives in me.”

We might object that it is no more than a matter of words, since Jesus is the Christ. Yet there was some advancement given him as reward for his heroic suffering. We read in Chapter Five of Revelations that the angels and saints, looking down on the heroic Jesus in death, sang, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive wisdom power and glory.”

Then, in Chapter Two of Acts Peter speaking of Jesus after death said, “Exalted at the right hand of God he received the promised Spirit.”

Those passages tell us that Jesus was awarded some enhancement in recognition of his triumph over death.

Chapters Four and Five of the Letter to the Hebrews make the point that the full humanity of Jesus included some deficiencies that are part and parcel of being human. Like, Hebrews 5:8 says: “Son though he was, he had to learn obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation.”

I invite you to join me in praying that we might experience Christ in his glory.