What is Real Unity?

Thursday of 7th Week of Easter

Acts 22: 30, 23: 6-11; John 17: 20-26

Dc. Larry Brockman

 

Unity! Christian Unity is the theme of today’s Gospel.  Jesus is praying that all people- those of His time and those who hear about him from His disciples- that all such people, might be one- ONE. 

And what does He mean by being one?  Well, Jesus says:  “So that they may all be one, as you Father are in me, and I in you.”  Just exactly how can we do our part to fulfill that prayer?  How can you and I be so unified with each other that God the Father dwells in us in the same way that He dwells in Jesus, and such that we are all one harmonious entity- the Body of Christ?  I think that Jesus was praying that not only would His disciples believe in common what He had taught them without their being contentions between them, but that they would put that belief into practice by each of them complementing each other  In going forth and Baptizing all nations.  Jesus is advocating the kind of teamwork one sees in a well- coached sports team.  There, as an ideal, each person works selflessly and tirelessly for the common goal with all the other teammates.     

Now in our first reading, we have a perfect example of the lack of such unity among “believers” in this World as Paul uses a clever ruse to escape his captors.  He pits the Sadducees (who don’t believe in the Resurrection) and the Pharisees (who do believe in it) against each other.  But the Jews, whether Pharisees or Sadducees, had so much more in common with each other than they had differences; especially when comparing the differences between themselves  and the Romans or the Egyptians or the Greeks.  That’s what makes the example in this reading so fascinating when it is paired with the Gospel call for unity.  Because these two factions within the Jews were anything but unified- they were ready to tear each other apart.   

It is no different today with us, is it- Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, etc. all share so much of the same Faith, and yet, we are hardly unified?  But before we can deal with the interdenominational unity problem, we must look within, because, indeed, our unity must begin “at home”- right here in our Parish.  Some of us are not joiners- our Faith is expressed as an individual thing.  Other folks are involved in one or more ways in Parish Groups.  We have prayer groups, men’s groups, ladies groups, social action groups, and all kinds of educational groups.  While each individual and each of these groups may be doing great work, the question remains- are we all working together as the unified body of Christ?   And can we do that better- develop our unity?  There are several things we need to get to the kind of unity Jesus is talking about.  First, we need the inspiration of the Holy Spirit- and that is coming shortly at Pentecost.  Second, we need an attitude that accepts that “I don’t have the answer; but rather, we have the answer”, because no matter how directed and fruitful we are as individuals or groups, God needs all of us to build the body of Christ.  Lastly, we need Love, a real love expressed towards each other.  Indeed Jesus ends his prayer this way, as he says:  “That the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”   

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