THURSDAY, February 19

I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

— John 17:4-6

For many years, I practiced my faith on my own, thinking I’d be just fine without attending church. I was in my thirties when I realized my isolation was not working. I was in exactly the same place in my spiritual growth as I had been when I stopped attending church. I realized I needed community. When I began attending church regularly, my faith started growing by leaps and bounds. I grew even closer to God after joining a religious community where we all help each other along the road to our home with God.

In this passage from the Gospel of John, the disciples witness the Son praying to the Father, asking God to glorify him “with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.” The prayer is part of the Farewell Discourse, and it occurs after the Last Supper, the night before the crucifixion.

In praying to God, Jesus shows us that he and the Father are one, but they are also part of a relationship between the coequal and coeternal persons of the Trinity. Jesus’ human nature calls upon his divine nature and reveals a truth that is difficult for human minds to comprehend: One God and yet three distinct persons.

Jesus also shows us how we should pray. He is fully divine but also fully human, so he needs to ask God for strength just as we do. And he prays in community, just as we should.

Reflect: How has your faith community helped deepen your connection with God?

This Lenten Meditation can be found at Episcopal Relief and Development