THE SPIRIT OF UNITY 1. Four days ago (1-6-2025), the Gospel reading was taken from John 17:20-26. You may call this part 1. 2. Today (5-6-2025), the Gospel reading is once more taken from John 17:20-26. You may call this part 2. 3. You may ask, why should we take the same reading within 5 days? Why are we not taking a different reading? What at all is in John 17 that it should be repeated? Is this a mistake? 4. The Church has a reason. She knows why there should be a repetition of reading. The choice of this text is to communicate a message to us. It is to tell us something. It is to open our eyes to something. 5. Traditionally, the entire Gospel, according to John chapter 17, is known as the Priestly prayer of Jesus. The reason for this is that Jesus is at prayer. This prayer of Jesus can be put into three sections: a. John 17:1-11a: Jesus prays for Himself. b. In John 17:11-19a: Jesus prays for His current disciples. c. 17:20-26: Jesus prays for His future disciples (you and I). 6. In today's Gospel reading (John 17:20-26), Jesus is at prayer. The Lord is praying. Jesus is saying something. I ask: When was your last prayer? How often do you pray? What is preventing you from praying? Interestingly, we have started this year's Pentecost Novena. We have embarked on a moment of prayer. Please join this prayer session. Tell the Lord something. Go on your knees and pray. 7. It is observed that in this prayer of Jesus, the word "one" appears not less than four times in the text: • They may all be ONE. • That they may be ONE. • Even as we are ONE. • That they may become perfectly ONE. 8. Clearly, the frequent usage of "one" is a call to unity, togetherness, or oneness. It is the Lord's intention that humanity should be one as there's no reference to disunity, division, or disintegration. 9. I ask: Is there unity in the world? Unity in your family? Unity in your Church? Unity in your group, society, etc? Unity in Ghana (you may insert the name of your country? Why can't we be united? What is the problem with unity? The situation is that, on paper, there is unity. In reality, unity is non-existent. • Just consider what is happening between Ukraine and Russia. Where is unity? • On account of tribe, some people wouldn't marry others who aren't from their community. Is this unity? • In some homes, it is the mother vs. the father and children. Elsewhere, it is the father vs. mother and children. In some places, it is the children vs. parents (mother and father). Is this unity? • In some parts of the world, some "whites" wouldn't want to associate with "blacks." Where is unity? • In some societies or groups, it is the chairman vs. the organiser. The secretary vs. the vice chair, etc. Where is unity? Today's message is all about unity. It is all about oneness. It is a call to togetherness. 10. In our bid to be united, there would be some issues here and there. Those who have been hurt by others wouldn't want to engage with some people. Again, there would be those who would want to be on their own. Others would prefer to move with certain cliques, etc. We need to deal with these issues in order to become one. 11. There can be no progress without oneness. Unity brings development and peace. Publilius Syrus puts the above in these words: "Where there is unity, there is always victory." Martin Luther King Jr. says: "We must learn to live together or perish as fools." U---united in heart and soul N---never should we be divided I---imitate God's unity T---togetherness is key Y---yes! We are called to oneness Come Holy Spirit.....🌿