The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to act for love and acceptance in the face of issues and opinions that threaten the unity that Jesus seeks in prayer.
The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents Paul before the Sanhedrin.
* [23:11] The occurrence of the vision of Christ consoling Paul and assuring him that he will be his witness in Rome prepares the reader for the final section of Acts: the journey of Paul and the word he preaches to Rome under the protection of the Romans. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 16 rejects the futile worship of false gods.
* [Psalm 16] In the first section, the psalmist rejects the futile worship of false gods (Ps 16:2–5), preferring Israel’s God (Ps 16:1), the giver of the land (Ps 16:6). The second section reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God (Ps 16:7–11). (Psalms, PSALM 16, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus prays for the believers ultimately to join him in heaven.
* [17:1–26] Climax of the last discourse(s). Since the sixteenth century, this chapter has been called the “high priestly prayer” of Jesus. He speaks as intercessor, with words addressed directly to the Father and not to the disciples, who supposedly only overhear. Yet the prayer is one of petition, for immediate (Jn 17:6–19) and future (Jn 17:20–21) disciples. Many phrases reminiscent of the Lord’s Prayer occur. Although still in the world (Jn 17:13), Jesus looks on his earthly ministry as a thing of the past (Jn 17:4, 12). Whereas Jesus has up to this time stated that the disciples could follow him (Jn 13:33, 36), now he wishes them to be with him in union with the Father (Jn 17:12–14).
* [17:24] Where I am: Jesus prays for the believers ultimately to join him in heaven. Then they will not see his glory as in a mirror but clearly (2 Cor 3:18; 1 Jn 3:2).
* [17:26] I will make it known: through the Advocate. (John, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rashmi Fernando, S.J. comments that the central desire of Jesus’ prayer is unity: “that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you.” This oneness is not about uniformity but communion—a deep connection grounded in love, truth, and divine presence.
At the heart of this prayer is an incredible truth: we are God’s gift to Jesus. This is how much we are loved. And this love is not distant or abstract—it desires to dwell in us: “that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.” Let this prayer of Jesus echo in your heart: I am loved, I am called, and I am one with Him.
As we reflect, let us examine ourselves:
Do I live with the awareness that I am deeply loved and united to God?
Am I an agent of love and unity in my family, community, or workplace?
What changes ought I make in my to-do list to bring about that love and unity in and around me? (Fernando, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Prayer of unity for all who believe,” by Cyprian of Carthage - first martyr bishop of Africa, 200-258 A.D.
"The Lord's loving-kindness, no less than his mercy, is great in respect of our salvation in that, not content to redeem us with his blood, he in addition prayed for us. See now what the desire of his petition was, that just as the Father and Son are one, so also we should abide in absolute unity. From this, it may be evident how greatly someone sins who divides unity and peace, since even the Lord himself petitioned for this same thing. He no doubt desired that his people should in this way be saved and live in peace since he knew that discord cannot come into the kingdom of God." (excerpt from THE LORD'S PRAYER 30.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 17:20-26 comments that Jesus knew that our love for one another could be so pure and so striking that it would draw other people to us. They would sense that there is something special—even divine—about our love for each other.
If Jesus’ final prayer for us tells us nothing else, it makes this one truth crystal clear: everything comes back to love. God loves his Son completely and fully. And he loves you completely and fully. May we all come to taste that love today, and may that love heal all our divisions—so that the world may believe!
“Jesus, teach me to live in love!” (Meditation on John 17:20-26, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Acts, Paul is arrested and accused of bringing a Gentile into the Temple, a false accusation. The Roman troops bring Paul to the Sanhedrin. Paul, son of a Pharisee, studied under Gamaliel, a renowned Jewish rabbi and Pharisee. Sadducees accept the first five books and not resurrection of the dead. Friar Jude reminds us, in the Gospel of John, that Jesus prays for disciples now and in future imploring us to share the “glory” which is love manifested strongest on the Cross.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Dr. Yolanda Pierce who expresses her call to welcome those who come to the communion table. Theologian M. Shawn Copeland describes how the Eucharist calls us to solidarity with those who suffer.
Eucharistic solidarity orients us to the cross of the lynched Jesus of Nazareth, where we grasp the enormity of suffering, affliction, and oppression as well as apprehend our complicity in the suffering, affliction, and oppression of others.… Eucharistic solidarity teaches us to imagine, to hope for, and to create new possibilities. Because that solidarity enfolds us, rather than dismiss “others,” we act in love; rather than refuse “others,” we respond in acts of self-sacrifice—committing ourselves to the long labor of creation, to the enfleshment of freedom….
At the table that Jesus prepares, all may assemble: In his body we are made anew, a community of faith—the living and the dead. In our presence, the Son of Man gathers up the remnants of our memories, the broken fragments of our histories, [and] judges, blesses, and transforms them. His Eucharistic banquet re-orders us, re-members us, restores us, and makes us one. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder the challenge of Jesus' Prayer for solidarity in “all being one” in the Love of the Father as we seek guidance from the Spirit to incorporate love in our relationships with all the people in our environment.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/23
Fernando, R. (2025, June 5). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/060525.html
John, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/17?20
Meditation on John 17:20-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/06/05/1298452/
Psalms, PSALM 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/16?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Eucharistic Solidarity. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/eucharistic-solidarity/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). May They Become Perfectly One. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/eucharistic-solidarity/
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