Gospel Thought for Today
12th November: Memorial of Saint Josaphat, bishop and martyr
Gospel: John 17:20-26
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:
“Holy Father,
I pray not only for these,
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 also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Reflection:
I pray … that they may all be one
St Josaphat was born of Ruthenian parents in present-day Ukraine. After his election as Archbishop of Polotsk, he made every effort to bring his fellow Ruthenians who were members of the Orthodox Church to full communion with the Catholic Church. A rival archbishop challenged Josaphat. The supporters of this archbishop killed Josaphat and threw his body in a river. Eventually this archbishop and his followers sought union with the Catholic Church. Working for unity among Christian believers can be challenging. St Josaphat bore witness and gave his life for this. Unless we all take to heart Jesus’ prayer to the Father, as written in today’s Gospel, the road to unity would be elusive.
- How do you translate Jesus’ prayer into action?
- How do you nurture unity in your community?
- How do you reach out to fellow Christians who do not belong to the Catholic Church?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Through the prayers and example of St Josaphat, imprint in our hearts Your plea: that all Your believers may be one. Amen.
