💖 HOMILY - MAY 16 💖

First Reading - Acts 22:30-22:6-11

Gospel - John 17:20-26

The policy of "divide and rule" was effective for the English in order to capture different countries. This theory is still practiced by some in order to rule and dominate. However, the readings of today tell us that God wants a family of believers who are united in Him and among themselves.

The first reading gives us a description of disunity and dissension caused by Paul between the Pharisees and Sadducees over the issue of resurrection. The dispute over the issue of resurrection tells us that the Jewish leaders, namely the Pharisees and Sadducees, failed to unite the religious belief in order to bring about cohesion and unity among themselves.

Today’s Gospel passage is the concluding part of Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer” in his Last Supper discourse. Here, Jesus prays for true unity among his followers who accept him as their Lord and Savior. In his prayer for unity among his disciples, Jesus mentions that the basis and criterion of unity must be the Unity of God in His Three Divine Persons among Whom there is eternal, mutual love and Self-giving. The unity of Jesus and his Father is a unity of love and obedience and a unity of personal relationship. Another reason for Christian unity is the union of the faithful with Jesus Christ in His Mystical Body by Baptism, and through Him with the Father. This means that the fullness of Unity is attained through the supernatural grace, which comes to us from the Father through Christ. Jesus declares that unity among the believers is essential if the world is to acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior because the disunity among Christians acts as the biggest block for evangelization, as it offers living, constant counter-witness to the Good News of Redemption.

Dear friends, since Jesus Christ himself left us his final wish for unity through his prayer to the Father: “that they may all be one; even as You, Father are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me” (Jn 17:21), it is our duty to pray and work for meaningful unity among Christians.

Let us learn to appreciate each other’s common beliefs and enter into genuine dialogue and cooperation with the members who differ with us in their opinions and views. The dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees is an example of lack of acceptance and openness to dialogue for the sake of unity. Therefore, the first step to bring about unity among ourselves is to accept differences and become ready to have a dialogue with those who differ with us in their opinions and beliefs. In everything, we need to remember that unity is desired by Jesus and not division. Let's work for unity among ourselves so that we can build a Church which is united with God and among themselves.

Let's pray that God may help us bring about unity among ourselves.