Jesus is praying for His disciples. He prays that they may be united, that they may be able to face up to the hostility of many who will reject their message. It is a prayer which we, His followers, also need.

Let us then pray today for unity among all our communities and within our own community. May we, too, be ready for the hostility and indifference that many will show for our faith in Christ. Let us realise that, like the Apostles, we must be fully inserted into the world around us. This is the only way that the message of Jesus will be heard. We are to be the salt of the earth; we are to be a light for the world; we are to be the leaven penetrating every corner of our society. And, to do this, may we be people of truth and integrity, so that our outer words and actions may truly reflect what we really are.