“I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.” (John 17:15)  These words are consistent with those in the Lord’s Prayer: “And do not bring us into the tine of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13).

St. Paul had a similar experience: “Therefore,, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

Although there are always trials and weaknesses, to St. Paul, those are the times to practice humility: To let God’s power be revealed.

When Jesus was feeling completely hopeless in Gethsemane, he still followed The Father’s will: “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” (Mark 14:36)

Although Jesus leaves us in this world, we “do not belong to the world” (John 17:14).  Therefore, Jesus said, “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17: 18-19)
We are truly blessed because we share Jesus’ mission.