Living the Resurrection life: stewardship as discipleship
May 19, 2026
God’s gift to us, for our troubled world
May 20, 2026
“They do not belong to this world.”
John 17: 11-19
Today, our world is torn apart by conflict, confusion, murder, war. Innocent children are gunned down; homes are destroyed; gruesome murders are recorded every day. Our leaders are no help as they, too, are part of the problem. There seems to be no solutions in sight.
Then we read this prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper, the night before his awful torture and death. His main concern is not for himself but for his disciples, whom he is leaving behind to face disharmony, torture, death. He prays for unity and harmony among themselves, similar to the unity he has with the Father; that they be protected from terrifying opposition and criticism that await them and then dedicates them to God whose Word is Truth.
This prayer comforts us as we face the challenges of our communities, our country, and our world. In it, Jesus reminds us that, though we are in this world, we are not of it; therefore, we need not be shaken by the negativity around us. Instead, like the disciples, we are set apart to be living examples of God’s truth, dedicating ourselves fully to His service.
