7th Thursday of Easter Time
Memorial of Saint Justin Martyr
Acts 22: 30; 23: 6-11; John 17: 20-26
Seated at table with His disciples gathered around Him, Jesus offered this prayer to the Father: “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”, (Jn. 17:20). My brothers and sister, each time we gather around this Eucharistic Table, we are numbered among the disciples in the Upper Room. It is overwhelming for me to think Jesus was thinking about us when He said this prayed. As He prayed, He revealed the desire of His heart, that all of us, no matter how diverse and distant, might be one Body under one Head, animated by the one Spirit of Love that is the bond of unity. In As He prayed, Jesus opened to us His inexhaustible treasures of love and mercy. It is this self-emptying and self-revealing prayer of the Son that ascends to the throne of the Father on our behalf. Throughout our life’s pilgrimage, this prayer serves as the anchor of our soul and the cause of our hope.
One is the intercessor between God and Man, Jesus Christ. One is the cornerstone upon which the Church is built. One is the Keystone that holds the structure together. We all profess to believe this, yet, the Body of Christ is divided denominations and faith communions that continue to defend their rancor and separation. They despise each other. These divisions and schisms give the lie to Jesus’ prayer for unity. These divisions within the Body of Christ do not proclaim the Glory of God. These separations do not contribute to the building up of the Kingdom in our time. They are a scandal and hinder the proclamation of the Good News of salvation. When the Lord pours out His Spirit upon us, may He give all who claim the name of Christian new hearts; hearts big enough to love Him. May these new hearts be compassionate enough to love all that He loves. May we be one in faith so that our lives might proclaim to the whole world that He lives in us and we in Him.
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