In today’s Gospel (John 17:20-26), we are drawn into the heart of Jesus’ prayer—the night before His Passion. This is no ordinary prayer. It is intimate, profound, and overflowing with love. Jesus lifts His eyes to heaven and speaks to the Father not only on behalf of His disciples but for all who would believe through their word—that includes us today.
The central desire of Jesus’ prayer is unity: “that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you.” This oneness is not about uniformity but communion—a deep connection grounded in love, truth, and divine presence. Jesus wants us to share in the same loving relationship He shares with the Father, to be drawn into the eternal embrace of God.
This unity is not just spiritual or symbolic. It has real implications for how we live, love, and relate to one another. Jesus gives us the glory He received—not for personal elevation, but to draw us into divine life. He prays that we may be “brought to perfection as one,” so that the world might believe in the love that sent Him.
At the heart of this prayer is an incredible truth: we are God’s gift to Jesus. This is how much we are loved. And this love is not distant or abstract—it desires to dwell in us: “that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.” Let this prayer of Jesus echo in your heart: I am loved, I am called, and I am one with Him.
As we reflect, let us examine ourselves:
Do I live with the awareness that I am deeply loved and united to God?
Am I an agent of love and unity in my family, community, or workplace?
What changes ought I make in my to-do list to bring about that love and unity in and around me?
Rev. Rashmi Fernando, SJ
I am a Jesuit Priest hailing from the island nation of Sri Lanka. I relocated to Creighton University, Omaha, NE, US, in 2023 to pursue doctoral studies in Interdisciplinary Leadership in Education (Ed.D.), with my Dissertation in Practice (DIP) focusing on ‘global citizenship’. Besides my doctoral studies, I work as a chaplain at the School of Dentistry (SOD) at Creighton University, an online faculty at ‘Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL)-Higher Education in the Margins’, and an author at ‘Colombo Telegraph’ and a few other mainstream newspapers in Sri Lanka, making my unique spiritual, intellectual, and interdisciplinary contribution toward creating a better world.
My myriad life events, years of experiences as a Jesuit, and international exposure to various socio-economic and educational-cultural milieus have confirmed my belief that life is not always black or white; it’s often grey. Writing these reflections, therefore, helps me grapple with those grey areas and help others do the same. In this endeavor, a couplet from Helen Steiner Rice’s poem, which I have slightly modified and embraced since childhood, holds particular significance: “Life is a fabric, I weave it with tender care; Upon the loom of my life, my pattern is indeed rare.” As much as I treasure this rarity in me, I enjoy acknowledging and appreciating it in others.
