So that They may be One

The Mosaic of Christian Belief

Was Jesus’ prayer “so that they may be one” (John 17:1-11) a total failure? Could it be that our divisions are an illusion of our own minds? Could it just be that western Catholics and Protestants along with Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians are already united in spiritual terms, if not in worldly circumstances? Could it be that because we all believe the teachings of Jesus, that in essentials we are one? Could it be that what divides us is as unimportant to God as we delude ourselves that it is important to us? Could it be that we are one in Jesus? We are first of all Christians. Of course the rest of that prayer was “so that they may be one as we are one.” That kind of perfect unity is only possible if it includes eternity.