Shout one message: “All one,” that is, unity among Catholics, unity among Christians, and unity among nations. “As the Father and the Son are one” (Jn. 17:22-23). (Cardinal Van Thuan, Five Loaves and Two Fish)

Reflection

This call to be one, to unity, is not a naive and sentimental wish along the lines of, “Can’t we all just get along … wouldn’t that be nice.” The call is in fact an awareness that all reality is grounded in the very unity of the Father and the Son.

“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they may also be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me” (Jn. 17:20-21).

We are caught up in this very prayer of the Son to the Father; a prayer which the Spirit will bring to completion. We must be agents of unity.