Summary: Jesus asked the Father to protect his followers, unite them, and make them holy through the truth. He sent them into the world, just as he was sent, and gave himself for them.
Gospel Acclamation: Blessed be the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction. (2 Corinthians 1:3b-4a)
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”