Today’s Gospel reading takes us into a very special moment—Jesus is praying. This is not just any prayer. It is his prayer to the Father shortly before his suffering and death. It is the final part of what is often called the “High Priestly Prayer.” And right away, we notice something amazing: Jesus is praying for us. He says, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word.” That means all of us—people who believe in him across every time, place, and culture. In the final hours of his life, we were already in his heart.
What does Jesus pray for? Not for our comfort or success—but for our unity. “That they may all be one.” This is what he longs for: that his followers may be united in love, just as he is united with the Father. We live in a world full of division. We see it in families, in communities, between nations, and sadly, even within the Church. It can be discouraging. Unity might seem like an unreachable goal. But Jesus reminds us: unity is not just a dream—it is his prayer. It is his gift. Christian unity does not mean we all have to be the same. It is not about uniformity. It is about communion—a unity that allows for differences.
The early Church understood this clearly. Saint Cyprian of Carthage once wrote, “The Church is one, which is spread abroad far and wide into a multitude by an increase of fruitfulness. As the rays of the sun, though many, are one light, and the branches of a tree, though many, are from one root… so also the Church, though she be spread everywhere, is one light.” Unity does not erase diversity—it holds it together in love. How do we live this unity? Jesus gives us a clear answer: love. When we choose to love each other—with patience, kindness, forgiveness, and understanding—our unity becomes something visible. It shows the world that Jesus is real. That his love is alive in us. That his Church is not just an idea, but a living sign of his presence.
Right now, we are living in the time between Ascension and Pentecost—just like the first disciples did. It is a time of waiting, praying, and trusting. And what did the disciples do during this time? The book of Acts tells us, “They were constantly united in prayer.” That is a good example for us. True unity does not start with big actions or speeches. It begins in prayer. It begins when we open our hearts and ask Jesus to help us love like he does. The saints understood this very well. Saint Teresa of Calcutta once said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” That is what Jesus reminds us of in this prayer. We belong to each other because we all belong to him. We are not just individuals walking our own paths. We are part of one family, held together by the love of Christ.
So today, let us hear his prayer again. Let us remember that Jesus is still praying for us—praying that we may be one. Let us respond by being people of unity. People who forgive instead of holding grudges. People who listen before they judge. People who build bridges instead of walls. And most of all, people who love—not just in words, but in action.
Because where love is, Jesus is truly present. And when the world sees that love in us, it will know that God’s love is real. May the Lord who prayed for our unity bring us closer to one another and to him, until the whole world sees the love of the Father made visible in Jesus Christ.
Fr. Mathew Charthakuzhiyil