A Moment To Pause: Wednesday May 20th 2026

Hello and good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today, on Wednesday the 20th of May, written by Mary Tyrrell. Jesus knew his time on earth was coming to its end.He had left himself for his friends to share in the signs of bread and wine. But as we might feel bit anxious when someone we love is leaving us. I’m sure Jesus the man felt the same.We have mixed feelings, we want them to follow their hearts and we trust them but… I know I felt like that when my son went to Sierra Leone. I was glad he was doing what he wanted but I love him and neither of us knew what he’d face or how he’d fare in the new culture.At Manchester Airport I remember saying a quiet prayer “Well God, he’s in your hands now.” And I can honestly  say I have never worried about him since.I can understand why Jesus channeled his concern into prayer “Keep them in your name.”And then leave them to God.Jesus asked God that his disciples be sanctified in the truth as he wanted his disciples to dedicate the whole of their lives to continue giving witness to Jesus’ mission.He knew it would not be easy. They would be persecuted and afflicted and even martyred as many of them were.This prayer reminds is that divine protection is not about being remove from the world but about being guarded from evil while we are living in it. The passage calls is to trust in Jesus to open our hearts to and allow his peace and love to guide our actions and relationship. Pope Leo the Great said, “Jesus was so human, but so human, as only God can be human.” He knows how difficult it will be to live in opposition to the values of the world  but people united around the name of Jesus will never be conquered.