The Gospel reading specified for this Sunday during the Holy Qurbano is John 6:35-46. It is the familiar 'I am Statement' of Jesus Christ, "I am the Bread of Life". Since we had covered it a few weeks ago, we will provide links to our Malankara World Journal prior issues where it is covered in detail. Instead, we will study the Gospel of John, Chapter 17 for this week's reflection. This is the alternate Gospel reading prescribed for this Sunday.

John 17 is known as the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. It is Jesus' final prayer before departing for the Garden of Gethsemane after the busy events on Maundy Thursday - the washing of the feet of the disciples, Giving the commandment of 'Love', Last Supper and the establishment of the 'Holy Eucharist' and sending off the betrayer to betray Jesus, starting the events of the Passion. Many theologians prefer to call this as Jesus' Prayer. The familiar 'Lord's Prayer' is called the Disciples Prayer; it is the prayer taught by Jesus to his disciples for their use. The High Priestly Prayer is Jesus' prayer to God, the Father. We get an opportunity to eavesdrop on the prayer. It is truly a remarkable prayer.

It is a prayer that looks to the future. It has three sections:

1. Jesus Prays for Himself (vs. 1-5)
2. Jesus Prays for the Disciples (vs. 6-19)
3. Jesus Prayers for Everyone - all sons and daughters of God - present and future [including us] (vs. 20-26)

Jesus was praying for all his future followers as well as the people seated around him at table that evening. That include us too! This is a prayer that focuses on unity. But there was no unity within His disciples when Jesus prayed for unity. They were all fighting for being the boss and to get the coveted position of sitting on the right and left sides of Jesus when He comes for the second time in His Glory.

Prof. Lucy Lind Hogan, Hugh Latimer Elderdice Professor of Preaching and Worship at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C. observed:

"I suspect that as the disciples gathered for what would be their final meal with Jesus (although they did not know it at the time) they did not feel like one ('united'). They were no doubt frightened, uncertain, insecure, scrappy, and squabbling. Peter was petulant, Judas plotting, and James and John were probably still jockeying for promotions. Did it change after the Ascension? Probably not. Having been a part of the church for many years I would add that this describes many the churches I have been a part of -- far from being described as one.

Likewise, I can point to many of our denominational bodies for examples and signs of that same disunity, discord, and dissension. ...They are far from being one.

As it was for the disciples then, so too is it crucial for us today to return to Jesus' prayer, for it describes his hope, his vision, and his picture of what we, his followers, are to look like and how we are to live our lives together. It is very clear that his words are meant for everyone -- then and now – as he prays for "those who will believe in me" (John 17:20) through the words of the disciples.

It is a prayer for community. Jesus prays that, "all may be one." To be a follower of Jesus is to be a part of a greater whole. According to Jesus there are to be no solitary Christians or spiritual "Lone Rangers."

Within that community the prayer is for unity: "that all may be one." Does that mean we all have to get along all the time? Does that mean we all have to agree all the time? If one thinks of this as a functional/political statement, it would seem to call for constant agreement and accord. But if one thinks more in ontological terms then it becomes who we are. We are one in Christ whether we agree with each other or not. We are one in Christ whether we like one another or not. To become a part of Christ is to become a part of the community; a part of the one.

Jesus' prayer reminds us that our unity, our "oneness" is to be a sign to the world of God's love for us in Jesus Christ. Oneness and unity is about love. And if you have been a part of a family, a member of a church, or a community, you know that within that love there can be disagreements and squabbling. We are human. But the mystery of the incarnation is that God desired unity with us so much God became one of us. And in that moment we were drawn into the oneness of God, the Creator/Father/Mother, the Son, and the Spirit. It is with God's help that we can live into that oneness.

The disciples were in the time between the Ascension and the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost. We are in the time between the first and second coming of Jesus Christ. May we rejoice in the assurance that Christ is with us, continuing to pray for our oneness, our unity."

I also was intrigued by a comment made on internet by a Preacher with screen name kvingelis001.

"I'll be honest, I'm usually frustrated by this prayer and the preaching I've heard around it. And when it's time for me to preach this Scripture, I balk. Why? Because so often we use these words of Christ as a command to His disciples to oneness within the body. We turn this beautiful prayer into another set of instructions, but it isn't instruction Jesus is giving. It is prayer that Jesus is praying. The NIB commentary on these verses reminds us that Jesus is not speaking to the disciples or to us. We are simply given the privilege of overhearing Jesus' intimate prayer spoken to the Father in heaven. Jesus never describes to the disciples how to create such oneness within the body but He prays to the Father to bring such oneness to pass. He places the body firmly in the Father's hands and entrusts us to His care. This doesn't remove my responsibility to live as one in love with my fellow brothers and sisters of all Christian traditions. But when my efforts fall short - when our efforts fall short - I can join with my Lord in prayer and place His body in God's hands once again. And such beauty to know that at the hour of His death, our Lord Jesus had US on His heart and mind. Not once does He pray for Himself but for God's glory to be known and for the body to be one as the Godhead itself is one."

Yes, isn't it marvelous that Jesus is always praying for us to his Father? We truly have a God of second chances. So, when you see the fights between the various factions in our Holy Church, we can be comforted by knowing that it was not uncommon from Jesus' time onwards. Jesus, God, The Father and Holy Ghost will take care of that. Perhaps by giving mankind the power to choose in Eden, God is willing to settle for unity in diversity.

In the United States, this Monday is known as the Memorial Day and is the unofficial start of summer. Soon, schools will close for summer break and people will be going for the summer vacations. We wish you a great summer.