Jesus speaks as though he is no longer in the world himself. His earnest prayer to the Father is to protect his disciples, to preserve them from evil. He would no longer be physically present, as he now is. So they would need to feel the Father's protection, much as Jesus himself had experienced;. So, the prayer addressed to the Father. All our prayers at the Eucharist and other Sacraments are addressed to the Father. The distinguishing mark of the Christian is the one commandment of mutual love, which is in itself the completion of God's revelation of himself as Father! Jesus' mission was to reveal the Father, which he has done progressively to his disciples. Now that the time has come for him to leave them, his earnest prayer is that they be one as he and the Father are one! Such a relationship would be a source of strength and courage to the disciples, and to us who are also in this family of one faith, one love, one mission!

We, as well as the disciples, are placed in this world, though we are not of the world. We remain like wheat among the weeds: continuing the mission of Jesus, to make God known and loved. Jesus, who by his death in obedience to the Father's will, was consecrated in truth is our model and guide in our way to the Father.