If we say that we are One in Christ then how can Christians be divided on so many levels? Why are there so many denominations? Why are there so many arguments and disagreements on matters of faith? In today’s first reading we see the great divide between the Pharisees and Sadducees on matters of faith! Faith in whom? The One God?
In today’s Gospel we hear the prayer of Jesus for us to be completely One with Him and the Holy Trinity! That the world may know Jesus by our love and Oneness in Him. Therefore we strive always to focus on that which unites us not that which divides us. St John Paul II wrote an encyclical Ut Unum Sint, on our committment to Ecumenism which every catholic should read and embrace. For we must always have dialogue and strive for solidarity in the service of humanity. We have all many varied and abundant gifts for which we can glorify the Lord our God by our work towards greater Oneness in and through Him.
We Are One In The Spirit
We Are One In The Lord
And We Pray That All Unity
May One Day Be Restored
And They’ll Know We Are
Christians By Our Love, By Our Love;
Yes, They’ll Know We Are Christians
By Our Love!
Amen Alleluia!
Saint Gregory VII, Pope, Saint Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi, Saint Bede the Venerable pray for us….
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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.’
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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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