The Unanswered Prayer

Gospel: John 17: 11-19

People often complain about God not hearing and answering their prayers.  They pray for all sorts of things, some unimportant and vain like winning the lottery or outcomes of sporting events; some more substantive like the healing of a loved one or growth in virtue.  We are often left at a loss and blame God when our prayer is not heard.

But consider today's prayer that Jesus offers - unity among his followers, and note that this plea has gone unmet and ignored.  Yet we have only ourselves, not God, for this lack of unity.  We have preferred apologetic and argumentation over loving-kindness and works of mercy.  We have preferred creedal statements and liturgical minutia over works of charity and care for others.  We have preferred our own power and way to that of service to others.  

Fifty years ago the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was instituted in January to bring together in prayer and mutual work various Christian churches and communities.  For a while it was working: ecumenical prayer services and collaborative works of charity and justice were common.  But now it is merely a mention on the calendar.  Very few events are held and the initiative has gone ignored like the prayer of Jesus itself.  If we will not make some effort to work for the realization of Jesus' prayer for unity, we cannot complain when our own prayers go unheeded and unanswered.