By Clara Meier

“While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” ~ John 17:12

In exploring other translations of this Gospel verse, the word “destruction” is replaced by the word “perdition,” which sounds a little more mysterious.  In looking up “perdition”, the definition is: a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death.  Further exploration of the entire chapter reveals that Jesus is very concerned about Judas.  Jesus knows very well that Judas is his betrayer and that the betrayal is part of the fulfillment of a prophecy. Nonetheless, Jesus has become close to Judas, and he is concerned for his friend.  He is particularly aware that the choice Judas is about to make will lead to his own eternal damnation.

In reflecting on this verse, it makes me wonder, who have I guarded for the Lord?  God gave each of us free will when we were born.  We each make our own choices. God’s hope for us is that we will make choices that will keep us close to him.  As we make choices for ourselves, there are those who watch us make those choices.  How we act can really impact others.  By making choices to keep ourselves close to the Lord, we can very well be guiding others to the Lord.  And this was Jesus’ concern in this Gospel.

A Life of Witness Through Vocation

As a nurse over the past 40 years, I know I have touched many lives.  It is a great blessing to have worked in these fields.  This vocation has allowed me to participate in the lives of others in very personal ways. Stepping into the lives of patients has given me many graces and privileges.  My hope and prayer is that my actions and words, when I go through each day, will be a return of the privilege. And that I will keep those I encounter on the road to grace.  

Each of us works in a job that allows us to meet people where they are and help them along on their own journey, with the final goal to be a saint and go to heaven.  Not all those we encounter realize that is God’s plan for all of us.  People can be angry, or impatient, or in denial, regarding that plan. Questions they ask of me include:  Why is my loved one carrying this grave diagnosis? Why does my baby need heart surgery?  How am I ever going to recover from a stroke? These are just a few of the questions that I have worked with in my many years on the job.  Someone can be so focused on the negative that they can’t see God in the moment.  I feel my job is to try to bring God back into the moment.  If I can help them recognize that God is working in the situation, I feel I can help them to heaven.  And hopefully, keep them from making decisions that may lead to destruction.  

When Prayer is the Best Gift We Can Give

And yet, there are people I have reached out to, knowing that they will make decisions that will pull them off the path to heaven.  I bet you can think of people like that in your life, too.  Whether it was a brief encounter or a lifelong relationship, it’s hard to know that your efforts didn’t work. Sometimes, it can be heartbreaking to know that a family member or a professional you encounter just won’t listen to you!  This isn’t the time to beat yourself up about what else needs to be done for that person.  You may not be the right person to help your friend or family member. But you can still pray for that person, both that they find heaven and that a person they do connect with will enter their life. 

A favorite quote of mine is when St. Monica went to St. Ambrose to ask how to bring St. Augustine back to the faith. Ambrose said:  “You need to spend more time talking to God about Augustine and less time talking to Augustine about God.”  Even great saints can’t convert everyone.  But everyone can pray!

Jesus Knows Our Limits and Works Through Them

Jesus worked to keep his Apostles on the road to make decisions to take them to heaven.  And in so doing, Jesus prepared the Apostles to spread his word throughout the world. And to keep people off the road to destruction.  Think of the church in the world today and how many generations have learned and lived the teachings of Jesus Christ.  But Jesus recognized that Judas would do what he was meant to do.

Some of my best moments are when someone encounters me outside the workplace and recalls what good came from our encounter at my place of work.  I see patients who have recovered from an illness, learned to manage a chronic condition, or happily made it through a NICU stay or difficult pregnancy and are now moving on in their lives in such a good way!  More difficult is the family of a patient who chose hospice care for their loved one.  The patient has passed, but I am grateful when a family recalls compassion in my actions. My hope and prayer always is that my actions reflect what Christ has taught and that the actions will be passed forward.

Prayer:

Father in heaven, please help me remain calm and patient in the most difficult of my situations each day.  Please help me to keep all I encounter in your name.

Call to Action:

When you do your nightly examen, do you consider how your actions of the day may have impacted others and left them feeling they have encountered Christ?

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