The Gospel reading for today continues the great High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. Here is a small part of His prayer, for His disciples: ‘Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth’. (John 17:17-19)

St John Chrysostom commented: ‘“What is, I sanctify [consecrate] Myself?” I offer to You a sacrifice. Now all sacrifices are called holy, and those are specially called holy things, which are laid up for God. For whereas of old in type the sanctification was by the sheep, but now it is not in type, but by the truth itself, He therefore says, “That they may be sanctified in Your truth”. For I both dedicate them to You, and make them an offering’. (St John Chrysostom, from Homily 82 on the Gospel of John, 17:19)

In our baptism, we are drawn into this consecration, and invited to make the same sacrificial offering of ourselves to God. May we do this trustfully and in truth, so that we find life and peace. May God bless you this day.