Gospel: John 17: 11-19
"...so that they may be one just as we are one."
God is one because of the bonds of love between the persons of the Trinity. In them there is no desire for power or domination, no quest for self-interested influence or wealth. God exists solely as a being of complete self-giving. In praying for unity among his followers, Jesus desires this same unity of love among all people that exists within the being of God in the three persons of the Trinity.
What is more, Jesus gave us a model to follow in preserving this unity. He renounced Satan and all his empty promises in rejecting any claims to power, wealth, or self-interest. He then set about on a ministry devoted entirely to helping others through healing, liberating and nourishing others at table. The community of people who followed Jesus exist solely to support one another in this work of loving service to others.
All Christians pledged at baptism to reject Satan and all his empty promises, and yet our communities are full of self-interested seeking of power and influence and wealth. We have created "ministries" that are little more than self-promotion and wealth generators. If we are unable to simply go about doing good and gathering to support each other and encourage another in caring for others, then Jesus' prayer will not be fulfilled.
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