Jesus is Praying for You

How does it feel knowing that Jesus is praying for you?

 

Here’s the first line from this prayer Jesus prays for us again:

 

“Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one.” -John 17:11

 

In the gospel reading today we get to hear Jesus intercede for us and there is substantial grace to be received by listening to, and internalizing the words Jesus prays. There is a purpose in this prayer, which is, “that they may be one as we are one.”

 

Oneness is not sameness. We all have different gifts to be used for the building up of the church. We are not called to be cookie cutter versions of one another. But, in the midst of our differences and different gifts, we are called to a deep sense of oneness that models the love shared between the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit.

 

We are called to overcome the forces that divide us within our parish. Those forces span everything from socio-economic factors, education levels, age, race, the amount of time you have spent in the parish, and the church community you have traditionally been part of, to mention just a few.

 

Jesus is praying that “we may be one.” I would say that, in his providence, Jesus is forcing our hand to help us understand just how seriously he takes unity or ‘oneness.’ Disunity is a direct threat to our flourishing because it is contrary to Jesus’ desire for us.

 

It’s a difficult process, becoming one, but we must be open to faith in Jesus and his protection throughout this process if we are to become a community where the thirsty come to drink living waters and encounter our risen Lord Jesus Christ.

 

This is Jesus’ desire for us, that we become one, as He is one with the Father.

 

What can you do today to help your parish grown in unity? Pray about it and see what comes to mind. Don’t be shy to offer your opinion on how we can grow in unity as one parish.