LET US BE UNITED IN TRUTH(Acts 22:30;23:6-12/Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11/John 17:20-26)

LET US BE UNITED IN TRUTH

(Thursday, June 06, 2019)

In the first reading today, the Lord urged St. Paul to be courageous and to be faithful and persevere in bearing witness to Him. And as we heard in the gospel, Jesus prayed for us that we will be faithful to God and persevere in unity and bearing witness. Indeed, St. John has left us a wonderful gift in his recording of Jesus’ lengthy prayer to the Father on the night before his Passion when repeatedly He prays that His Church remains united, as He is united to the Father and the Father to Him.

He prayed that the Church remains one in the bond of the Holy Spirit, just as the Blessed Trinity in one. Jesus said, "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, as you, Father, are in me and I in you.” Jesus prays that “they may all be one.” Who are they? He said that “they” includes his disciples and anyone who comes to believe in him through the preaching of his disciples. This is how all Christians came to believe; we are all unified because we all heard the Gospel from Jesus, either directly or through others. So already Jesus has given us the basis of the unity that he is praying for. Jesus clarifies what it means to be one: “you, Father, are in me, and I am in you.” The unity of Christians should be like the unity of the Trinity. What is the unity of the Trinity? Love. The unity of the Trinity is a unity of essence, and God is love.

The Father is in the Son because the Son loves the Father. The Son is in the Father because the Father loves the Son. We Christians will be unified in each other when we love each other without reservation. Jesus reminds us that separation from the Body of Christ is the result of the Evil One, the devil, who always tries to deceive us into separating ourselves from the Body by being complicit with sin. Jesus tells us that the truth consecrates us and lies separate us. Truth comes from the Father; lies from the devil. Truth unites; lies separate. Jesus will give us the Spirit of courage. May we be brave in witnessing to our faith.

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, give us grace to become united in heart and mind as we witness for you. Amen.