Intercede

Today I finished reading the Gospel of John.  Chapter 17 contains Jesus' beautiful intercessory prayer on behalf of his followers.  Here's part of it:

John 17:13-23

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.  I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—  I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Dictionary.com defines "to intercede" as "to act or interpose on behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition" or "to attempt to reconcile differences between two people or groups; mediate."  The idea of Christ helping us in difficulty or trouble, and attempting to reconcile us with God, is a sublime thought.  Christ prays for US - for you and for me, in our downtrodden and trying moments.  His spirit urges us to do the same - to be peacemakers, to seek reconciliation and forgiveness, and become bringers of great joy.  I hope that Christmas reminds you of that spirit of peace and joy!  Yea, verily - even to shout with the choirs of angels HALLELUJAH!