Meditating on the Gospel passage gives us a sense of being loved immensely by Jesus. We feel how privileged we are to be loved by Him and invited to commit ourselves to His mission on earth. Amidst so much of disunity, division and violence throughout the world, what Jesus prayed today in v.21 is a rebuke of the groundless and often bitter divisions among Christians. He continued to pray that "they may be one as we are one."(v.22)

There is so much 'weight' in this prayer that reflects His real concern for this reality to be established among all His followers. "Lord, how we have disappointed you in the way we, believers live today in the world - not spreading your peace and love, but we have fallen into the trap of the evil spirit in all kinds of negative complaints and divisions."

The death of St Stephen in the first reading is an inspiring example of a total commitment to Christ even in his death. Are we ready for such acts of love today? Are we committed enough to take up the challenge to be Christ's true witnesses in our daily life?

As Christians who embrace the passion, death and resurrection as the paschal mystery we are called to live, do our lives reflect this essential dimension of Christian spirituality?