THAT THEY ALL BE ONE

It is Jesus’ desire that his followers be united, be one, because love
is unifying, it brings people together. This is the priestly prayer of
Jesus in the Gospel of John.

“May they all be one.
Father, may they be one in us,
as you are in me and I am in you,
so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.
With me in them and you in me,
may they be so completely one
that the world will realise that it was you who sent me
and that I have loved them as much as you loved me.” (Jn 17:21-23)

During the past week, Christians from various denominations all over the world, prayed together for Christian Unity.

On Thursday, this prayer was held here at the Church of St Mary of the Angels and it was wonderful to see this gathering of Christians. Christians having been formally conducting prayers together for this purpose since 1908, and the Catholic Church is a strong supporter for unity, evident from Vatican II’s Decree on Ecumenism.

I quote from the introduction of this decree.

“The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council. Christ the Lord founded one Church and one Church only.

However, many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but differ in mind and go their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided.

Such division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature.

But the Lord of Ages wisely and patiently follows out the plan of grace on our behalf, sinners that we are. In recent times more than ever before, He has been rousing divided Christians to remorse over their divisions and to a longing for unity.

Everywhere large numbers have felt the impulse of this grace, and among our separated brethren also there increases from day to day the movement, fostered by the grace of the Holy Spirit, for the restoration of unity among all Christians.

This movement toward unity is called “ecumenical.” Those belong to it who invoke the Triune God and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, doing this not merely as individuals but also as corporate bodies.

For almost everyone regards the body in which he has heard the Gospel as his Church and indeed, God’s Church. All however, though in different ways, long for the one visible Church of God, a Church truly universal and set forth into the world that the world may be converted to the Gospel and so be saved, to the glory of God.”

One important point to note about the above quote, is that for unity to take place, each faction has to recognize its part to play in causing or sustaining division. And indeed, included in the prayer service for Christian unity, there is a section entitled ‘Prayer of Repentance’, recognising that we have persisted in our disunity and have hardened our hearts to the Gospel.

Let us continue to repent and in humility, allow the Lord to teach us, as our Mass readings this Sunday exhort us to do.

So that we may work towards unity, starting especially with unity within our families, our parish
communities and one day, unity among Christians.