John 17:20-26
20 ”I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer
Jesus always prayed before he did important things. Examples of this are when he chose his disciples and brought Lazarus back to life. He also went to the father after the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. The crowds came to make him king and he withdrew to the mountain to pray.
The prayer we speak about today is known as the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. The Old Testament speaks about a prophet, priest and king. These are three offices that nobody but Jesus combines and embodies in one person.
His prayer is like a last will and testament that Jesus leaves to his disciples. He emphasizes oneness and unity. The prototype of this unity is that Jesus and the father are one. That achieves the same idea of “love one another as I love you.”
This prayer includes glorifying God the father as the only one who can give us the gift of unity. Humans cannot be unified without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ prayer shows us that unity is not a preference or proposal, but a divine order or mandate that is rooted in the very heart of the holy trinity.
This prayer is Jesus’ prayer for his disciples, but even more, for those who believe in Jesus because of the disciples’ preaching.
Such oneness is also expressed by St. Paul in his epistles. Examples are Ephesians 4:4-6 and I Corinthians 12:12-14.
Unity doesn’t mean conformity. It means to be rooted in Jesus’ body and blood. Churches can show unity by respecting other cultures and denominations, concentrating on who Christ IS more than who we think he is.
United in Jesus’ person and inspired by the Holy Spirit, the disciples could live reconciliation, understanding, and build bridges. Most important for Jesus is his spirit of humility and friendship with others. Building upon those qualities contributes to achieving God’s will for the church’s mission in the world.
How do we live it today? How do we encourage our church to meet Jesus’ prayer with other churches? How do we live it ourselves as Jesus desires us to?
Finally, we thank Jesus for his prayer. Let us be committed to fulfilling his desires for us, and to being a sign of his presence, love and mercy. Amen.
