How blessed are we to have hope in Christ? As Christians, we are given a mission by Christ to witness His cause, which is also the cause of God the Father. The mission to ensure all may know “God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). To be heralds of this message carries a certain level of risk and danger that requires supernatural help and unity in purpose.
People of Prayer
As we turn to the Scripture for today, we see the violent division this message can bring (Acts 23:9-10) and the confidence we must have in God as our refuge for protection and help (Psalm 16). The Lord shows us in a most important way to be people of prayer especially in petition for those to whom we have great responsibility. The gospel reading opens with our Lord in prayer to our Heavenly Father, not in request for Himself, but for a gift of unity for His disciples and for all those who will encounter His disciples. This opening scene, in a few words, says a lot for us who look to our Lord as a model for Christian living.
First, we must be a people of prayer because our Lord who is God Himself turns to God the Father in prayer on behalf of those to whom He has taught and to those who will encounter His disciples on their mission. When reflecting on this, it struck me as a father with a great responsibility to my family especially my children and wife to pass on my faith and confidence in the Lord. And to turn to our God with a petition for a gift of unity in seeking the path of Christ and sharing His love with each other and all we encounter.
In examining my daily prayer life, I ask myself whether my prayers are beyond my personal desires? Am I relying on God’s help and providence to keep my family united around the cause of Christ to know and love God and to journey toward a life with Him in eternity?
The point here is two-fold: one: if Christ takes time to pray to God the Father, then I am far off base if I am not doing the same. Two, take notice of who and what Christ is praying for in His prayers. His prayers are prayers for others. Many saints witness to this as well, especially Saint Monica who prayed continuously for her beloved son’s conversion, who we now know as Saint Augustine. Her prayers were so powerful that not only did Augustine become a practicing Christian, but he was also graced with the gift from God to become a Father of the Church united to the cause of Christ. This prayer model that Christ and Saint Monica practices is applicable to everyone with responsibility to lead others – parents, teachers, managers, priests and coaches just to name a few.
People of Unity
Second, we see that our Lord’s petitions directed for His disciples and those to whom the disciples will go are petitions for unity. Also is the message of hope and belief in Christ who was sent in Love by the Father. This unity is not an easy one because the message can be divisive and dangerous for the messenger as seen in the reaction to Paul’s message before the Sanhedrin in Acts 23:6-11. Again, we can tell this is not an easy unity if only we reflect on how often the Lord mentions the word “one” in today’s gospel reading. This oneness or unity is a required, perfect unity that secures the important, uncorrupted message that God loves us, He sent Jesus and looks forward to our future dwelling with Him in heaven. This message has been proclaimed and passed on by all united Christians before us in both word and deed.
So, in my prayers today, I continue to pray for Christian unity that we may all proclaim in word and deed that God loves the world!
