In today’s Gospel Jesus prays for us with these words, “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” You and I have come to believe in Jesus through the words of the Gospel. These words are the preaching of the apostles that have been handed down through the ages. This gospel was preached orally by Paul and the other apostles and then written down by the four evangelists.
When we pray, we put our deepest wishes and concerns before God. Jesus’ prayer and petition is for unity: “I pray…that they may all be one, as you Father, are in me and I in you.” Jesus teaches that his followers should show the same unity and love among themselves that exists between Jesus and his Father. This oneness and love will then draw other people to God. Jesus gives a similar teaching in his Sermon on the Mount:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13-16).
Our light is our “good deeds” of compassion, love, and forgiveness. Our “good deeds” are when we stop judging and condemning: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1). So, our good deeds or unity will draw people to God.
Sadly, and sinfully at times we Christians have not shown this unity, this love or compassion. As we all know scandals and hypocrisy in the church and among its leaders at times drive people not only away from the church but even away from God. Jesus challenges us as Christians to a renewal of our mind and spirit. Instead of polemics and backbiting we are challenged to see the good and the holiness in one another. Instead of seeing the “splinter” of failing and sinfulness in secular society we are called upon to see the sinful “wooden beam” of disunity, acrimony, and hypocrisy among Christians:
“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 5:1-5)
In today’s Gospel Jesus prays for our healing, for our unity and love. Let us join him in prayer and in action!
Image: “4-Jesus-praying-at-Gethsemane” by liyang127 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.