May They All Be One.

Homily for June 1, 2017.

In today’s first reading, we see Paul appearing before a tribunal for trial wherein he noticed there was division among his accusers and he decided to take advantage of this division.

All he had to say was to introduce himself as a Pharisee and declare that he was standing trial simply because of the issue of the resurrection of the dead. Immediately there was an uproar in the assembly.

Paul could not be tried any longer simply because of the deep seated division between the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

Disunity is not exclusive to Christianity alone. In all the religions of the world, there are different camps whereby people are divided on matters of doctrine, leadership or certain moral standings.

Wherever it occurs, disunity prevents people from facing a common enemy. Think about this, if only the Pharisees were united in thought and doctrine with the Sadducees, perhaps they would have been able to put an end to the missionary enterprise of Paul but they couldn’t stop him.

In our Gospel passage, Jesus is praying for unity among his followers. Even in the prayer, Jesus highlights the scandal of disunity when he says “. . . MAY THEY ALL BE ONE . . . SO THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME.”

In other words, the very fact of our disunity as Christians prevents the world from receiving the message of God. Let us stop seeing ourselves as Catholics, Pentecostals, Jehovah witnesses, and so on and so on. We all are one.

Today, we remember a martyr, who though neither a priest nor a religious was willing to die for the sake of the faith. As the Catholic-Online-Website describes Justin, “this layman became the first great apologist for Christianity and opened the gates of light for so many others….”

“Just before the Roman Prefect, Rusticus sentenced Justin and his companions to death, he asked Justin, "If you are killed do you suppose you will go to heaven?" Justin said, "I do not suppose it, but I know and am fully persuaded of it.” Justin and his fellow martyrs were beheaded in the year 165.”

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, give me courage to bear you witness by my life. Amen.

*Happy New Month. Welcome to June. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (St. Justin, Martyr. Bible Study: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 and John 17:20-26.).*

Fr. Abu.