ANSWERING THE LORD’S PRAYER

Lectionary Texts: John 17:13-14, 19, 22, 26, NRSV - “But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. . . 19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. . . 22  The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one. . . 26  I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

In his great high priestly prayer of intercession,

Jesus said, “The world has hated them because they do not belong to the world.”
        Who of us is being persecuted by the world today for righteousness’ sake?
Jesus said, “I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves."  
        Why in the world does it not show in us?
Jesus said, “I have given them your word.”
        What in the world have we done with it?
Jesus prayed “that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me.”
        Where in the world is the church demonstrating that kind of oneness today?”
Jesus prayed “that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
        When in the world will it happen?
Jesus prayed “that the love with which you have loved me may be in them.”
        How in the world are we expressing that love?

Who?  Why?  What?  Where?  When?  How will we answer our Lord’s prayer?