There are many things and circumstances that causes division in the world. Language, race, religion, culture, social status, economy and so on; for there are simply too many different causes to list. However for Christians and we know this to be true, is that only Jesus Christ our Lord can unite the world! For if the world knew and accepted Him there would be no division whatsoever. For only He can give us Peace which the world cannot offer. For through Him we ALL became God our Heavenly Father’s children. Through Him we are One body in Him. We were given the Spirit of Truth at our Baptism. This very truth that unites the world to Himself.
St Paul shows us in today’s first reading that being led by the Holy Spirit he spoke up truths which were louder than the world’s voices! St Paul was freed by revealing truth that he shared Roman citizenship and was able to bear witness in Jerusalem. He was freed again when he spoke the truth about the resurrection of the dead which was a shared belief by the Pharisees. And our Lord tasked him to bear witness to Him in Rome! The truth indeed will set us free. (Read John 8:31-32)
Let us therefore go forth to share the Truth with one and all so that the World might be united as One completely in Him. Amen Alleluia!
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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