Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“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.”

 

Gospel Reading: John 17:20-26

 

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: "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, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you  have me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

 

“There is something very special about the beatitude of heaven: it makes us resemble God, because God Himself is love. The more we love Him as He loves us, the more we resemble Him; and the more we resemble Him, the more we come to know Him. And, to complete the circle, the more we know Him, the better we love Him, and this is the eternal life that we may know Thee, the only true God, Jesus Christ Whom Thou has sent” (Thomas Merton).

 

Today’s Gospel reading (John 17:20-26) is the completion of Jesus prayer to His Father the night before his crucifixion. His prayer ends with a petition to our Father to unite all Christians and have us be one body. This is rather interesting that Jesus was praying this prayer at the hour that Christianity was first born and we Christians today are more separated than ever. Jesus wanted all Christians to be one with the Word, not just his disciples. So why does Jesus want us to form one body? Well it is simple, so we can all experience the love and Grace of our Father in Heaven; so we can all be in union with God together – not separate. Christ tells his disciples that not only does he pray for them, but for all the people who hear the Word of God. Jesus continually prays that we are one holy universal church open for all. Jesus wants all Christians to unite at the Eucharistic table. We are called to the altar to celebrate Christ, yet how many times do we turn away our brother or sister? How many times do we condemn others because they are different or because we feel we are better than they are? Christ says that his church is open to all who believe. As Christ is in the Father and the Father is in Christ, the church is also present in Christ and God. As a member of the church, that makes us a member of the Mystical Body of Christ. As a member, we must accept everyone who joins us at the table. We do not have the right to discriminate against any of God’s children. The unity of Jesus and his Father is a unity of not only love, but obedience. We too must express unconditional love and obedience to God. In doing so, we must express the same love and obedience to our fellow brothers and sisters. When we deny the Eucharistic table to a fellow brother or sister, we deny the love God has poured out for us. Love is an expression and gift given to us at birth. We know love from the very instant we are conceived. We know love because we know God. We must learn to hate. Hate is something that we learn by watching others. What do people learn when they watch you?

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Christ, you prayed for the union of all Christians,

Let my prayers and my life help lead all of your lambs to the universal Christian church.

My our love help us resemble God so we can come to know God.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon