UNITY AMONG ALL
It is a prayer for unity among Christians; the same deep unity that
exists between the Father and the Son: "So that they may all be one, as
You, Father, are in Me and I in You" (Jn 17:21).
In today's Gospel
of John, Jesus concludes His farewell discourse by praying to the Father:
"I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one, as We
are One" (Jn 17:22). His prayer is that there will be unity among all
people. Jesus is praying for you and me, and for each person who believes in
Him through His Word, which has been passed down from one generation of
believers to the next. Yet, His prayer takes us deeper than just formal
arrangements and agreements between churches and ecclesial bodies. It is a
prayer for unity among Christians; the same deep unity that exists between the
Father and the Son: "So that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in
Me and I in You" (Jn 17:21).
This is the type of
unity that builds, drawing all together, and doesn't divide. For example,
married couples strive to reach a level of unity that calls to mind the unity
between God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son. Parents take every effort to
foster unity within their families, reflecting the Father and Son model of
relationship. And finally, members of a faith community need to overcome
obstacles that disrupt harmony and peace, and the list goes on.
In the Responsorial
Psalm we acclaim, "Keep me safe, O God; You are my hope... You will show
me the path to life, fullness of joys in Your presence" (Ps 16:1,
11).
Jesus Christ has
reconciled us all in one Body, all for the love of God!