UNITY AMONG ALL
a unity that
builds, brings it all together, and doesn't divide.
In
today's Gospel of John, Jesus says these words in prayer: "I have given
them the glory you gave Me, so that they may be one, as We are one."
Today
the Church honors St. Ephrem, deacon and Doctor of the Church. Ephrem composed
his teaching in poetry and song. He's been called the Dante of the Fourth
Century and the Harp of the Spirit, and is credited with making the hymn an
integral part of Christian worship. Though the melodies are lost, the text for
four hundred of Ephrem's hymns still exists. His sympathies have been
identified in modern terms as ecological, feminist, and healing. He had a true
passion in his heart for God's people to bring them to have much joy in God's
goodness, showing us how to go deeper in our relationship with our heavenly
Father!
Jesus'
prayer was intended to bring unity among all, and Christ 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 formal arrangements and agreements between churches and
ecclesial bodies. It is a prayer for unity among Christians, a deeper unity between
us and our heavenly Father the Son and the Holy Spirit, "so that they may
all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You." It's a unity that
builds, brings it all together, and doesn't divide.
In
the responsorial psalm we acclaim, "Keep me safe, O God; You are my hope.
You show us the path to life, fullness of joys in Your presence" (Ps 16:
11).
Jesus
Christ has reconciled us all in one Body, all for the love of God!