Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: "I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me." — John 17:20-26
In these final moments before His passion, Jesus lifts His gaze to heaven with a prayer that spans centuries. This priestly prayer for unity reaches beyond the apostles gathered around Him to embrace every soul who would come to believe through their witness. The prayer for unity in John 17:20-26 reveals Christ's deepest desire: that all believers might share in the perfect communion He enjoys with the Father.
The Heart of Jesus' Prayer for Unity
Jesus does not pray for mere cooperation or tolerance among His followers. He prays for the same unity that exists between Himself and the Father — a unity so complete it becomes a living testimony to the world. This divine unity transcends human efforts at reconciliation or organizational structures.
The phrase "that they may all be one" echoes through the prayer like a heartbeat. Christ envisions a unity rooted not in shared opinions or cultural similarities, but in the very life of the Trinity. When believers dwell in this unity, the world witnesses something impossible by human standards alone.
Saint Cyprian taught that the Church's unity flows from the unity of the Trinity itself. The bonds that unite believers mirror the eternal love between Father and Son.
Glory Shared and Unity Perfected
"I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one." These words reveal the mechanics of divine unity. The glory Christ shares is not earthly honor but participation in His divine nature.
This shared glory transforms human relationships from the inside out. When believers receive Christ's glory, they become capable of the same selfless love that characterizes the Trinity. Competition gives way to collaboration. Pride yields to humility. Division dissolves in the face of divine love.
The saints understood this mystery through lived experience. Saint John of the Cross wrote extensively about the soul's union with God, noting how this intimacy naturally overflows into love for others. Through St. John of the Cross Method of prayer, believers can enter more deeply into this transformative unity.
Love as the Foundation of Christian Unity
Jesus concludes His prayer with a stunning revelation: "that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them." The same love that flows eternally between Father and Son now dwells within believers.
This love is not sentiment or feeling but the very essence of God's being. When this love takes root in human hearts, it creates bonds stronger than blood or culture. The early Christian community described in Acts exemplifies this supernatural unity — believers held all things in common because they had first been united in divine love.
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux discovered that love was her vocation within the Church. Her little way of spiritual childhood shows how simple acts of love contribute to the unity Christ desires. St. Thérèse's Little Way offers a practical path for living this unity in daily life.
Pray With This Reading
This passage invites contemplation of the Trinity's perfect unity and our call to participate in that divine life. The Lectio Divina method allows the Holy Spirit to illuminate Christ's words about unity, helping believers understand their role in answering this prayer.
Begin by slowly reading Jesus' prayer several times, allowing His words to settle in the heart. Notice which phrases draw attention. Rest in the reality that Christ prayed specifically for you and your unity with other believers. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how you might better live this unity in your daily relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jesus mean by unity in John 17:20-26?
Jesus prays for believers to share the same unity that exists between Himself and the Father. This supernatural unity goes beyond human cooperation to participation in the divine life of the Trinity itself.
How can Christians achieve the unity Jesus prayed for?
Unity comes through receiving the glory and love that Christ shares with believers. As individuals grow closer to Christ through prayer and the sacraments, they naturally grow closer to one another in divine love.
Why does unity among Christians matter to the world?
Jesus explains that when believers live in supernatural unity, "the world may believe that you sent me." Christian unity serves as a powerful witness to Christ's divine mission and the reality of God's love.