Julian of Norwich simply sums up our unity in Christ. “Christ himself embodied all humanity. His sweet incarnation and blessed passion will liberate us all, because he is our head and we are all the parts of his body. . .” (tr. Mirabai Starr, The Showings of Julian of Norwich, p. 139)

Jesus does not demand unity in John 17. Jesus prays for our unity, for us to be one, as Jesus is one with God. Unity is essential oneness. Since Jesus declares that his followers are one, this is a matter of being, not thinking or doing. So, the challenge to our unity is that though we are one, we don’t always act or think that way. Perhaps we fail to grasp the truth of our unity.

The source of our unity is the mutual love of Jesus in God. Jesus did not resist God’s mercy. God freely dwelled in Jesus’ humanity. Their unity of mutual love is our source and ground.

True unity requires mutual sacrifice, coordination, setting aside preferences for the true need of the other. Among siblings in Christ, it is important to remember we are not sacrificing for others’ greed, or foolishness. There is a difference between true need and foolish greed. We are called to discern for the sake of unity.

Jesus is inviting us to a great challenge, a life and world changing challenge—to practice unity in love, based on the unity of the love of God in Christ.

We are one. Courage be ours to give ourselves freely over to this unity in love. Amen.