The Prayers
The idea of giving glory to God seems a bit grandiose or presumptuous in that we cannot “give” Him glory. Is it boastful to think any action of ours could somehow add to the glory of God? When we give the Lord the gift of “giving glory,” we are changed. When we give Him glory, our hearts expand; this may or may not touch or inspire others to greater love for God but we are nevertheless transformed.
“This prayer also picks up the previous tenants of the unity of the father and son, with the disciples as the basis on which they continue to be in the world” (New Jerome Biblical Commentary). The text goes on to say the climax of the prayer “comes with the commissioning of the disciples take Jesus’ place in the world.” However Jesus’ place in the world is a state of unity between Himself and the Father. He consecrates them to the Unity of Love between Father, Son, and Spirit, not to specific deeds.
While scholars debate as to whether or not the Last Supper was a Seder, it clearly occurred around the time of Passover. At an earlier Passover, Jesus multiples the loaves and fishes, delivers the “Bread of Life” discourse, and makes the first of His ‘I am’ statements. The New Interpreters Bible characterizes both events as Eucharistic in nature; “the Eucharist is here depicted as a relationship of abiding, mutual intimacy, where believers are drawn into the love of the father and son.” Every ‘I am’ statement within the Gospels is a statement about the relationship of unity with between Son and Father.
While Jesus includes a petition around protection, He primarily prays for the disciples to be drawn into His union. Because Jesus and the Father are One, he need not vocalize or formulate His prayer to the Father. He prays verbally and aloud for the benefit of the disciples. In doing so He pulls them into His union with the Father. Chapter 17 is often called the “high priestly prayer”. The highest function of a priest and of a priestly people remains to be drawing others into the Unity of the Trinity.
We cannot consider the glory and the unity of the Trinity without feeling an intense desire for Him. ‘Desire’, ‘unity’, and ‘glory’ are part and parcel of each other, and create a circular cause-and-effect. Because of our humanity, we are limited in our perception of our own union with Him; perhaps, however, the Lord does not perceive any sort of distance or gulf. How do we live in such a way as to openly surrender to the desire for unity, thereby giving glory to God in a way that draws others into that Oneness? How do we accept and suffer through such longing while living in the real world?
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are glorified by us when we allow ourselves to feel hunger and thirst for the Lord knowing we cannot fully fulfill it in this lifetime. The acknowledgement of and surrender to the painful experience of our unfulfillable desire for Him is His glory. Teresa of Avila labels this a “sweet suffering” with only joy and peace attending it; it was for this suffering that Christ endured the cross.
Journal Questions:
- How do you give glory to God?
- How do you perceive or characterize your union with the Lord?
- What strategies do you employ to tolerate the unquenchable thirst, the insatiable hunger for the Trinity?
Writing Exercise:
Write a list of personal ‘I am’ statements. Analyze how they are or are not statements of unity with the Lord. End with a commitment to make any changes you feel necessary.
Creative Arts:
Fabric art- Use three versions of a color, object, stitch, etc. Each will represent one member of the Trinity.
Paper art- What might you say is the Creator’s “crowning glory?” Use or represent such in a piece.
Home arts- Create a list or a symbol of an ‘I am’ statement for your home, a room or particular area.
© 2014 Marilyn MacArthur, all rights reserved
Writing to Pray 