My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today’s Gospel reading comes from the seventeenth chapter of John, in which Jesus prays for his disciples and all those who would come to believe in him through their preaching. This chapter is sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer because in it, Jesus intercedes for us with the Father as a priest would intercede for his people.

In this prayer, Jesus expresses his deep desire that we would all be one, just as he and the Father are one. He prays that we would be united in our faith, in our love for one another, and in our mission to proclaim the Good News to the world. Jesus knows that we will face many challenges and obstacles as we seek to live out our faith, but he also knows that if we remain united in him, we will be able to overcome them.

As Catholics, we are blessed to belong to a Church that has been united in faith and mission for over two thousand years. We are part of a community that spans the globe and includes people of every race, language, and culture. But we must also acknowledge that there have been times when our unity has been tested, when we have been divided by doctrinal disputes, by cultural differences, and by political disagreements.

In these moments, we must turn to the example of Jesus, who prayed that we would be one. We must remember that our unity is not based on our own strength or wisdom, but on the grace of God that has been poured out upon us through the Holy Spirit. We must seek to build bridges of understanding and reconciliation with those who may think differently than we do, always remembering that we are all children of the same God and members of the same Body of Christ.

Finally, we must never forget that our mission is to proclaim the Good News to the world. We are called to be witnesses to the love of God, to the power of the Gospel, and to the hope that we have in Christ. This is a mission that requires unity, courage, and perseverance. But we can take heart in the knowledge that Jesus is interceding for us, praying that we would be one, and empowering us through the Holy Spirit to carry out his mission.

As we reflect on this beautiful prayer of Jesus, we can see that he is not just praying for unity for the sake of unity itself, but rather for a very specific purpose. He prays that we would be one, so that the world may believe that the Father sent him. In other words, our unity as Christians is a powerful witness to the world of the truth of the Gospel.

When we are divided, we give a confusing message to the world. But when we are united in our love for one another, despite our differences, we show the world a glimpse of the love of God. When we work together, sharing our gifts and talents, to bring about the Kingdom of God, we demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit.

However, we cannot achieve this kind of unity on our own. We need the grace of God, and we need to pray for it. We need to pray for the grace to be humble, to be patient, and to be willing to listen to one another. We need to pray for the grace to put aside our own preferences and agendas, and to seek what is best for the Church and for the world.

In this prayer of Jesus, we can also see that he is not just praying for his disciples, but for all those who would come to believe in him through their preaching. This means that he is praying for each and every one of us. We are all part of the Church that Jesus prayed for, and we all have a role to play in bringing about the unity that he desires.

Let us pray together for the grace to be one, as Jesus and the Father are one. Let us pray that our unity may be a powerful witness to the world, and that it may draw others to the love of God. And let us ask for the intercession of the Virgin Mary who always points us towards her Son, who is the source of all unity and peace.

So let us go forth from this Holy Mass with renewed commitment to building unity within our Church, with renewed zeal for our mission of proclaiming the Good News to the world, and with renewed confidence in the power of Jesus’ intercession on our behalf.

May God bless you all + Amen.
Fr. Charles