The Letters of John, coming from the community that produced the Gospel of John, hint of disunity in some circles of believers. Was this out of their disagreement over Jesus’ claim that his flesh is real food and his blood real drink?

In the Gospel, many of Jesus’ disciples ceased to follow him over this issue (Jn 6:66). Nonetheless, it was noted:

“They went out from us, but they were not really of our number; if they had been, they would have remained with us” (1 Jn 2:19). Hence, the import of Jesus’ prayer to the Father: “So that they may be one, as we are one” (v 22).

Jesus’ oneness with the Father is not simply based on the fact that Jesus was sent by the Father, and that, therefore, his words and works are according to the Father’s will. It is based on something primordial: a unity of essence, a profound union in the Godhead.

In the priestly prayer, Jesus prays not only for the first disciples, but for the community of believers gathered by the witness of the first disciples.

He prays that this ekklesia (church) may truly be a revelation of his mission by its oneness. The author of the Letters of John, in fact, writes later that true experience of God in Jesus leads all to a “sharing of life” (1 Jn 1:1-4).

This is the central idea in the author’s view of authentic mystical and spiritual life. Union with God in Jesus must not only show itself in a person’s life of faith, but, above all, in the person’s love for his brethren.

Wishing to determine the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the commander freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.

Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”

When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.

A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst and take him into the compound. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage.

For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

“Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.” or “Alleluia.”

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.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.