Peace in Unity is a Witness
O God our Father, Creator of all, bringing into your family all who trust in your beloved Son, look with mercy and pity on the division and hostilities that plague your children. Bitterness and jealousy have ruptured the unity that our Lord prayed would be the witness of your children. Forgive us, cleanse us, and bind us into one family that will give a clear and compelling witness to your greatness and majesty and love; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, we pray.
Amen.
John 17:20-26 NRSV
“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Cyprian
The Lord’s loving-kindness, no less than his mercy, is great in respect of our salvation in that, not content to redeem us with his blood, he in addition prayed for us. See now what the desire of his petition was, that just as the Father and Son are one, so it may be evident how greatly someone sins who divides unity and peace, since even the Lord himself petitioned for this same thing. He no doubt desired that his people should in this way be saved and live in peace since he knew that discord cannot come into the Kingdom of God.
(Ancient Christian Devotional)
Lord, hear; Lord, forgive; Lord, do.
Hear what I do not say, forgive what I speak amiss, do what I leave undone, so that – not according to my word or my deed – but according to your mercy and truth, everything that comes from my hands and mouth may be to your glory and for the good of your kingdom.
Amen.
(Maria Hare – 1798-1870)
O God,
You manifest in your servants the signs of your presence: Send forth upon us the Spirit of love, that in companionship with one another your abounding grace may increase among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019)
Take My Life and Let It Be
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
