Oneness with God!

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Acts: 1:15-17,20-26; 1 Jn 4:11-16; Jn 17:11-19

The seventh Sunday of Easter recommends oneness with God as the most needed blessing that a Christian can possess in life. 

In the Gospel, we find Jesus praying to God on behalf of his disciples for three things. 

That they may be one: Jesus prays that his disciples, by their faith in him, are one in mind and heart as emblematic of their discipleship. The foundation for such oneness comes from Jesus’ relationship with God. Here, Jesus inspires his disciples through his own example. 

That they may be kept from the evil one: Jesus now prays for the protection of his disciples from the influence of evil. The basis for such protection comes from the fact that the disciples live in the world, though they do not belong to it. Hence, their journey in this world needs God’s protection so that the disciples do not fall prey to the temptations of Satan. 

That they may be consecrated in truth: Jesus prays for a special gift for his disciples – consecration in the truth. The Word that is God’s is the Truth. Jesus is the Word Incarnate and the Word Revealed. Hence, it is in the truth of Christ that Jesus wants his disciples to be consecrated by God. ‘Consecration in truth’ is a unique blessing and privilege that identifies the disciples of Christ. 

The three points for reflection from this Sunday connect us to other readings as well. 

God is Love: If there is one term that captures the essence of John’s Gospel, it is God’s love. It is as if John is asking us if there is any other term that can explain God better. Echoing the same, the second reading establishes love as the symbol, sign, and identity of God. We are called not only to witness God’s love but also to be the proclaimers of it. 

Set apart for God: The Gospel theme of consecration means sanctity and holiness. However, it does not strictly refer to making holy as to moral character. Rather, holiness is understood in relation to someone anointed for God. In other words, the one who is consecrated is set apart for God. The example comes from the first reading, in which we find Matthias being replaced as the apostle in place of Judas, the betrayer. Here, Matthias, who is consecrated by God, is set apart for God as an apostle. Every Christian is set apart for God by means of our consecration in Christ. If ‘that we are set apart for God’ is our distinctive quality, how far are we affirming it in our lives?

Oneness with God: In the Gospel, Jesus prays that his disciples may be one. The same expression, calling for our oneness, is used five times in the chapter. Why would Jesus pray for our oneness? Jesus sees that our oneness with God is the only way to journey in this world, just as he himself did. The fact that we do not belong to this world reinforces the fact that we should rely on God for our strength and protection. For Christians, our homeland is heaven. Until we reach our heavenly destination, we need the strength coming from God to traverse this world. Jesus finds our relationship with God as the only antidote to any evil that might befall us. 

We are invited to understand that our oneness with God procures every blessing for Christian life. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar