As we continue our Decade of Mission 2026 on this Sunday journey toward Pentecost, today we reflect on Christ’s prayer for His disciples and for every family called to live in God’s truth and unity.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers His High Priestly Prayer to the Father:
“I pray for them; I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me” (John 17:9).
These words remind us that Christ continually intercedes for those who open their hearts to God and strive to remain faithful to His word.
Today’s reflection is offered by Fr. Stepan Vytvytskyi,
who reflects on the Christian family as a “domestic church” — a place where God lives and acts through prayer, love, unity, and service.
In a world often distracted from God, Christian families are called to become living witnesses of faith. The strength of a family is not found only in human affection, but in daily life rooted in God’s presence.
A family becomes a true domestic church:
- through shared prayer,
- through reading Sacred Scripture,
- through participation in the Holy Mysteries,
- and through living love with patience, forgiveness, and sacrifice.
The home is also the first school of faith, where children first encounter God through the example and witness of their parents.
A domestic church is not closed in on itself, but open to others:
- through hospitality,
- through helping those in need,
- and through sharing God’s love with neighbors and the wider community.
Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski continues to invite all faithful of our Eparchy to use these Mission Days as a time of renewal for our homes, families, and parish communities.
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Sunday, May 17
“The family is called to be among those for whom Christ prays”
John 17:1–13
Reflection by Fr. Stepan Vytvytskyi
📺 Please find today’s video reflection below:
https://youtu.be/toqSmrt4PHc
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Missionary Tasks for Today:
- Personal level:
Take a few minutes for personal prayer and ask God to help your family become a true domestic church. - Parish level:
Support the work of your priest in educating children by living your faith at home. - Mission level:
Show hospitality or help another family through support, attention, or a good deed — so that through you, others may feel God’s love.
May our homes become places where Christ is welcomed daily.
May our families grow in prayer, unity, patience, and love.
And may we become living witnesses of God’s presence in the world.
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Sunday, May 17
“The family is called to be among those for whom Christ prays”
(John 17:1–13) — Fr. Stepan Vytvytskyi
The Scripture passage assigned for today is the beginning of the so-called High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in the Gospel of John. In a way, it is a theological summary of Christ’s life and mission before His Passion.
A special feature of this prayer is that much of it is devoted to His disciples:
“I pray for them; I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours” (John 17:9).
These words reveal Jesus’ unique intercession for those who believe in Him. When He says “I do not pray for the world,” it does not mean God does not love the world. In John’s Gospel, “the world” often refers to a reality closed to God.
Thus, Jesus prays especially for those who have opened themselves to God’s word — that they may remain in truth and unity with the Father.
How important it is today that every Christian family be not part of a world closed to God, but among those for whom Christ prays.
According to God’s plan, the family is called to be a “domestic church” — a place where God’s presence lives. The strength of a family is not in human feelings alone, but in living by God’s word and belonging to the community of believers.
What does it mean in practice to be a “domestic church”?
- to make everyday life a place of encounter with God
- through shared prayer
- through reading Scripture
- through participation in the Sacraments
The family is also the first school of faith, where a child first comes to know God through the living witness of parents.
Without this, even the best teaching can remain only theory. But when a family lives the faith, even simple words bear fruit.
To be a domestic church also means to become a place of real love — not perfect, but alive. This love should follow Christ’s example:
- sacrificial
- faithful
- patient
- forgiving
- serving
Here true unity is born — a unity that reflects the unity for which Christ prays.
Finally, the domestic church is not closed in on itself but open to others — through hospitality, sharing, and helping those in need. In this way, the family becomes a living witness of God’s love in the world.
So let us open our families to God’s word and make them true “domestic churches,” living in prayer, love, and unity, and becoming those for whom Christ prays.
Mission tasks
- Personal level: Take a few minutes for personal prayer and ask God to help your family become a true domestic church.
- Parish level: Support the work of your priest in educating children by living your faith at home.
- Mission level: Show hospitality or help another family through support, attention, or a good deed — so that through you, others may feel God’s love.