One of my professors once completed a book on Catholic social teaching and I’ve always remembered the title he chose for his book—That They Be One. This phrase comes from today’s passage in John’s Gospel as Jesus prays for his disciples and for those who will later come to believe in him from his and their testimony. Similarly, Paul in Acts exhorts the Church of Ephesus to be vigilant and careful addressing the future challenges that will come their way with the potential to cause disruption and division in the community. Following themes of yesterday’s readings, Paul and Jesus are saying farewell and leaving with prayers and messages of encouragement to their communities.

The language of “being one” and the unity that Jesus speaks about may have roots in the early Johannine community. But Jesus is speaking about much more than the welcome times when people seem “to be getting along” personally—even though this is welcome in groups and human organizations. The unity Jesus speaks of here is grounded in his own intimate relationship with God his Father. Jesus knows that his followers will face hostility in the world. Jesus prays that God will keep them safe. Both Paul and Jesus are aware of the complex challenges facing their circles of companions. Paul identifies “wolves” (usually biblical language for heresy) that will disturb communities and cause division and infighting. Jesus speaks of the reality of evil as a powerful worldly force that does all it can to cause pain, suffering, and havoc in the lives of persons. Jesus is not shy in talking about the forces in the world that lead to death, suffering, and disunity. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, in his well-known guide to prayer in the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises identifies the “enemy of the human” as a reality in the world that is truly evil and wishes to harm us. Paul and Jesus are aware of and want to prepare and help their communities that will face serious challenges from both inside and outside.

We too are well aware of the varied threats we now face in our lives. Our world struggles with widening social and political division as does at times even our own Church. For me at least, these realities are troubling and worrisome. Throughout the span of our lives we are all part of many different communities. Part of our own journeys of faith is to leave behind our love, care, and good works to contribute to unity and flourishing after we are gone. This unity we pray and hope for is not only an expression of social harmony or even solidarity in human terms but is more essentially connected to the truth of Christian testimony—that is, the reality of our lives and relationships with Jesus and with one another. When we live more closely with Jesus (Paul certainly did) we are more fit for the joys, graces, and also the demands and challenges of communal life—whether at home, work, at school, and among our circle of friends. The relationship between Jesus and the Father is at the center of this deep bond of love. We are called to share in this saving relationship in our daily lives as Christians.

Jesus prays for his disciples and for those who will come to believe in him. He shows concern for them as he knows they are fragile in the world. We are too. These days make us more deeply aware of our vulnerability—beyond our fanciful imaginations and fictions we hold dear that we are strong or in control of the serious sufferings and unknowns always part of human life. Our lives in community bring us strength as we mutually share with others. The radical individualism which, in my view, is so strong and powerful in our age is directly challenged by Jesus’ deep relationship with the Father and the union we are called to live with each other. Let us do all we can to nurture our communities by living and loving with ever greater openness, honesty, and generosity. Jesus and Paul show us a way forward by how they lived and prayed. We too continue to grow in life together and in prayer as we welcome each day that God generously gives us.
—Francis T. Hannafey SJ

Today’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops website.