What does it mean to be completely one? Are we one when husband and wife do not come together to pray as one? Are we one when parents and children do not pray together as one? Are we one when ministry members do not come together to pray as one? Are we one when different church ministries or church members do not come together to pray as one outside of the Eucharist? Are we one when we don’t know each other by name or know anything about our individual famililes? How then are we completely one in our Lord Jesus Christ?
We see from the first reading and in our own personal experiences how fragile unity is? Oftentimes it only takes well positioned words to evoke strong feelings which can lead to disunity. Another is gossip which is the number one most poisonous instrument for the death of communities. But why is gossip even allowed to begin? How does it start? Does it not stem from one who is highly insecure about him or herself? It might even be a means to an end, a malicious intent. How will it perpetuate if no one listens? Or is not passed on?
All communities focused and centred on our Lord Jesus Christ, who come regularly together to be nourished by His Word, to pray and to adore Him are those built on rock. These are communities which are completely one for Christ is one with them.
Jesus our Lord and our God, may we truly be one in You as You are One with our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
First reading
Acts 22:30,23:6-11 †
‘You have borne witness in Jerusalem: now you must do the same in Rome’
Since the tribune wanted to know what precise charge the Jews were bringing, he freed Paul and gave orders for a meeting of the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin; then he brought Paul down and stood him in front of them. Now Paul was well aware that one section was made up of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, so he called out in the Sanhedrin, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees. It is for our hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.’ As soon as he said this a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was split between the two parties. For the Sadducees say there is neither resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, while the Pharisees accept all three. The shouting grew louder, and some of the scribes from the Pharisees’ party stood up and protested strongly, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?’ Feeling was running high, and the tribune, afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered his troops to go down and haul him out and bring him into the fortress.
Next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome.’
Gospel
John 17:20-26
Father, may they be completely one
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:
‘Holy Father,
I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me.
May they all be one.
Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.
I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one.
With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me
and that I have loved them as much as you loved me.
Father, I want those you have given me
to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Father, Righteous One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me.
I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.’
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