REFLECTIONS TODAY
Today’s Gospel is the last part of Jesus’ prayer in John 17. He also prays for believers who will come to him through the witness of his immediate disciples. He prays for unity among all his followers, that all of them may be one as he and the Father are one (Jn 17:22). True unity, however, appears to be elusive everywhere. And even among Jesus’ followers, unity is difficult to foster. He prays for our unity as his followers. He knows that it is not easy to attain. This is why he keeps on reminding his disciples to remain in his love (15:9). He prays that the love, with which the Father has loved him, may be in us as his disciples. True unity is only possible in God’s love.
Do we pray for true unity? Do we work for unity among Christians? How much love do we give in order to give unity a chance?
GOSPEL • Jn 17:20-26
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
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