May 17, 2018 Thursday of the 7th week of Easter-B

Acts of the Apostles 22:30; 23:6-11

Psalm 16

John 17:20-26

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices… Psalm 16:9

Lord, as long as we let the status quo prevail in life, gladness of heart will be elusive.  As long as we embrace the standards of this world, a rejoicing soul will be hard to come by.   As long as we depend only upon ourselves for survival and happiness, we will have many failures.  It’s not so much what happens to us in life that shapes our happiness but how we respond to it.  Whether it is success or failure, our perspective is what really counts.  Lord, I want to do your will in everything.  Do I really mean that?  Are there times when I want to go it alone and do my will and not yours?  As you prayed to your Father for your followers to be one in heart and mind, you also prayed for me.  Please, unite my heart and soul to yours.  If I am one with you everything else will work out just fine.  I pray for unity in my family, church, community, nation and world.  Thank you, Lord, for your prayers and for walking with me on the path to life.  Amen