In yesterday's reflection, we saw Jesus praying for the restoration of the unity of the whole human race, a unity which was destroyed at the Tower of Babel by human fearfulness leading to disobedience.

Chapter 17 is the prayer with which Jesus concludes the Last Supper. Jesus intercedes for all humanity and in a special way for his own followers, those who believe in his word. Today's reading from this prayer touches more closely on the need for Christian unity. Jesus desires this unity for a wider purpose: "that the world may believe that you sent me."

In St. John's Gospel, "The one who sent me" is almost a definition of God the Father. To believe that the Father sent Jesus is to believe in God. Christian unity is not just a matter of structures or organization. Christian unity is essentially a matter of evangelical witness. If the Gospel divides one from another, it will not be attractive to those who do not yet believe. Thus we must continually learn from Jesus to be concerned for the unity of the whole human race, children of the one Father in heaven.