The Word among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Thursday, 21 May 2015
Meditation: John 17:20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one — 23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am; so that they may see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 Righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these people have known that you sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will continue to make it known; so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I myself may be united with them.”
Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
… that they may all be one. (John 17:21)
Is it possible, Lord? You prayed that your people would be one in the same way that you and the Father are one. It seems too good to be true! I see so many people who call on your name and yet are at odds with one another. But it’s not just other people. There are times when I catch myself holding onto past grudges or feeling superior to my brothers and sisters from other traditions.
Lord, I know that you deeply desire that all your children be united. It’s what you prayed for on the night before you died, so it must be one of the deepest longings of your heart. And if you prayed for unity, then it must be possible. It must be capable of going beyond what I can see with my eyes.
You want so much more for us, Lord: more than just tolerating one another or trying to pretend our differences aren’t there, more than an uneasy truce or a compromise of our disagreements. You want to bind our hearts together, to knit us into one body with you as our head.
Thank you, Lord, that you have provided the way! As you live in all of us, we can be “brought to perfection as one” (John 17:23). It is your life in us that overcomes disunity. So instead of looking at others or myself, I need to look to you, draw near to you, unite myself more fully to you. As I grow closer to you, I will grow closer to my brothers and sisters. As we all seek you with sincerity, we will find ourselves on a path toward you that will bring us nearer to each other as well. It’s like a divine triangle with you at the top!
I know that we will be fully united with each other only when we are with you in heaven. But I also know that this heavenly promise is available to us more and more as we pursue unity here on earth. So please, Lord, help us all break down walls of division. Lord, make us one!
“Praise to you, Lord Jesus! You have made true unity possible. Help me to embrace your vision and dream so that we can become one in you!” Amen!
Acts 22:30 However, the next day, since he wanted to know the specific charge the Judeans were bringing against him, he released him and ordered the head cohanim and the whole Sanhedrin to meet. Then he brought Sha’ul down and put him in front of them.
:6 But knowing that one part of the Sanhedrin consisted of Tz’dukim and the other of P’rushim, Sha’ul shouted, “Brothers, I myself am a Parush and the son of P’rushim; and it is concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am being tried!” 7 When he said this, an argument arose between the P’rushim and the Tz’dukim, and the crowd was divided. 8 For the Tz’dukim deny the resurrection and the existence of angels and spirits; whereas the P’rushim acknowledge both. 9 So there was a great uproar, with some of the Torah-teachers who were on the side of the P’rushim standing up and joining in — “We don’t find anything wrong with this man; and if a spirit or an angel spoke to him, what of it?” 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander, fearing that Sha’ul would be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force and bring him back into the barracks.
11 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage! For just as you have borne a faithful witness to me in Yerushalayim, so now you must bear witness in Rome.”
Psalm 16: (0) Mikhtam. By David:
(1) Protect me, God,
for you are my refuge.
2 I said to Adonai, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good outside of you.”
5 Adonai, my assigned portion, my cup:
you safeguard my share.
7 I bless Adonai, my counselor;
at night my inmost being instructs me.
8 I always set Adonai before me;
with him at my right hand, I can never be moved;
9 so my heart is glad, my glory rejoices,
and my body too rests in safety;
10 for you will not abandon me to Sh’ol,
you will not let your faithful one see the Abyss.
11 You make me know the path of life;
in your presence is unbounded joy,
in your right hand eternal delight.
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