Acts 1:12-14 / 1 Peter 4:13-16 / John 17:1-11
An ordinary dictionary for the English language would have more than 150,000 words in common usage.
But whether it is a common dictionary or a comprehensive dictionary, the number of words in any dictionary is not the same as the number of words in the use of the English language.
Being an evolving and dynamic language, there are slang and jargon, and specialized words used by professionals like in the medical, technical and scientific fields.
Though there is an abundance of words, we use only a certain amount of words daily, whether spoken or written.
And some words are repeated here and there, which are also known as high frequency words.
The words that we usually use are common and understandable.
To use bombastic or sophisticated words could result in misunderstanding and the listeners would also not be too receptive to what we are saying.
In the gospel passage, Jesus was the only person talking, and He spoke a lot of words.
As much as the words He used were simple enough to understand, it would certainly take a lot more to comprehend.
The gist of what Jesus said is about a union and a unity.
It is also the first part of a long prayer in the whole of chapter 17 of the Gospel of John.
Jesus talked about the union between Him and God the Father when He said this: Now Father, it is time for you to glorify me with the glory I had with you before ever the world was.
And from that union between the Father and Him, Jesus moved on to talk about those that the Father has given to Him.
Jesus not only talked about those that the Father had given to Him, He also prayed for them, so that in them, the Father and Jesus will be glorified.
Certainly, this may not seem to be so easy to understand or comprehend.
We may want to call that a mystery, which can be understood initially, but there is much more to comprehend.
But mystery is not without reality. In fact, mystery is manifested in reality.
We see that in the 1st reading and in just one sentence: All these were joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
That was the last mention of Mary in the Bible, and it was a profound statement.
Mary showed what union and unity is. She understood the prayer of Jesus. She lived out that prayer of Jesus. May we also do likewise.