Did you know that each one of us is mentioned in the Gospel reading for today? (John 17:20-26) We are! Jesus is talking about us – in fact, he is praying for us. First, Jesus prays for his disciples, the ones he will be sending out into the world. But then, Jesus shifts his prayer to include others. He says: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word…”
So what is the Lord praying for? What does he want for us? What is his will for us? Jesus asks “that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us…”
Jesus is praying for the unity of the church. Jesus does not pray for us to tolerate each other or just be nice to each other. He does not even pray that our differences would be eliminated. Instead he prays for our oneness. He prays that we would be one as he and the Father are one so that our oneness will be the revelation of God’s life and presence to the world.
Oneness is not about eliminating differences. It’s all about love. Love is the only thing that can ever overcome division. Jesus tells us that time and time again. Our love for God, neighbor, self, and enemy reveals our oneness, and the measure of our oneness is love. In love there may be differences, but there is no division.
And God’s love knows no boundaries. God loves everyone: male and female, rich and poor, gay and straight, Christian and Muslim, conservative and liberal, educated and uneducated, young and old, sinner and saved. All are loved fully, completely, and uniquely as each needs. If this is how God loves, how can we do anything less and still call ourselves Catholic Christians?
For far too long we have dealt with each other through our boundaries, differences, and divisions. It’s time for us to re-evaluate our lives. When we deal with others through our divisions, we label, we judge, and do whatever it takes to stand our ground, right or wrong. Now where is the oneness in that?
Although Jesus is praying to the Father, you and I will play a large role in being the ones to answer Jesus’ prayer. We will answer his prayer every time we choose how to love, who to love, and where to love. It is time we answer Jesus’ prayer by loving one another completely.
