Jesus Shows the Importance of Unity

 

Christian unity bears witness the divinity of Jesus Christ. 

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Thursday of 7th Week of Easter, May 16th, 2024
Texts: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11; John 17:20-26 

Jesus Christ prays, today, for those who will still believe in Him by hearing the word. He says, "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” In the prayer Jesus shows the importance of unity among His disciples. All the disciples must be one through all ages.  

All the disciples are to be one with those before them through the same faith. The author of letter to the Hebrews says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (13:8). The present disciples must also be one among themselves. We are to be one as the early Christians were one. It is said of them thus: “They were of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32). By the prayer, Jesus prays for Christians of all ages to be one among themselves.  

The reason why we must be one

Jesus gives the reason why we must be one. It is because by being one we will be in union with Him and the Father. In His words: “That they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us”. When we are one, we are in union with the Son and the Father. Hence, the unity among us is so important to be in union with the Son and the Father.  

The union with Father and the Son is full realised we see Him face to face. This is clear in His words: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which you have given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world.” Our unity here on earth is an assurance that we will be Him in heaven. 

We are one we bear witness to Him as the Christ

Jesus also emphasises that when we are one we bear witness to Him as the Christ. He puts it thus: “Even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Since our unity bears witness to Him as Christ, it means being Christ He is one with the Father. Put differently, it means He has the nature of God. Hence, Christian unity bears witness the divinity of Jesus Christ.  

Jesus also hinges the necessity of Christian unity on the unity between Himself and the Father. He calls this unity the glory He receives from the Father, it is a gift from the Father. He has bestowed the same gift upon us. In His words: “The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one”.

Prayer 

May your Spirit, O Lord, we pray, imbue us powerfully with spiritual gifts, that he may give us a mind pleasing to you and graciously conform us to your will. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke