Unity in Diversity 

Jesus said, "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you 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. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

John 17:20-23

In these verses from the Gospel of John, we witness Jesus offering a profound prayer to the Father, not only for His disciples but also for all those who would come to believe in Him through their message.

What is striking about this prayer is its central theme of unity—a unity so deep that it mirrors the very unity between the Father and the Son.

The concept of ecumenism, or the pursuit of Christian unity, lies at the heart of these words spoken by Jesus. He desires that his followers be one, just as he and the Father are one. This unity is not merely superficial; it is a unity rooted in the very essence of God—a unity of love, purpose, and mission.

Ecumenism is not about the mere coming together of different Christian traditions or denominations. It is about embodying the unity that Jesus prayed for—a unity that transcends theological differences, cultural barriers, and historical divisions.

This year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity runs from 12 – 19 May and the prayers are written by a team of people in Burkina Faso where freedom to worship as a Christian is near impossible, with security guards protecting worship centres and people.

As we reflect on Jesus' prayer for unity, we are reminded that ‘unity is not uniformity’.

It is a call to humility.

It is a call to love, as we strive to overcome the prejudices and biases that divide us.

It is also a call to mission, as we bear witness to the reconciling power of the Gospel in a fractured and divided world.

In striving for ecumenical unity, we not only fulfill the prayer of Jesus but also bear witness to the truth of His message. For when the world sees Christians united in love and purpose, respectful of differences, it becomes a powerful testimony to the reality of God's love and the transformative power of the Gospel.

May we, as followers of Christ take seriously His prayer for unity, and may our pursuit for unity, our language and prayers shine hope brightly in a world too often torn apart by division.

Blessings, Rev. Carmel