Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.”

This is taken from the prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper. He was full of concern for his disciples and knew that he was about to give his life for them. What is the main thing that he asked for us? Unity. The church is more than a collection of people who believe the same thing. We are not saved simply as individuals; we are saved by being part of a larger reality, the church, where people are united in one faith and one love for each other.

This is being written as the cardinals begin their deliberation and voting for a new pope. Pope Francis ended his papacy with much division in the church, with some actively opposed to him. Much of the criticism came from our own country. The ideal of unity seems to have been forgotten. Yet, this is what we pray for at each Mass. It is the purpose of the Mass, in fact. At the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer, we ask two things of the Holy Spirit: that he transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. We also ask that he transform us so that we become “one body, one spirit in Christ.”

Suppose we do not take this prayer seriously. In that case, we risk what Saint Paul said of his Corinthians, whom he was criticizing for divisions in the community, especially discrimination against the poor. He told them that because of this, their so-called Eucharists were not the Lord’s Supper; they were celebrating only their division, their selfishness, and sin.

Do we strive for unity in our lives?

Let Us Pray:

O Jesus, help me to appreciate the depth of your prayer for us, and strive for that unity that you wanted to characterize your church.