Day 7- 10/4 Oneness

10/4- Saturday- John 17:11- I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

Bonhoeffer: “Christian brotherhood is not an ideal that we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ which we may participate.”

Thoughts: Jesus’ great prayer before his arrest involved our being one.  Perhaps he prayed this because He knew it would be hard for us to be one.  There are many different denominations today- formed by differences in culture, viewpoints, and sin/pride from the past.  Yet, there is also a sense in which different denominations know deep down we need to work together.  So food banks, care for housing needs, medical help for the needy, community worship at Thanksgiving, disaster relief are often the cooperative work of many different denominations.  The ideal would be that there would/should be no differences.  In heaven that will be true.  There will not be different rooms for Christians- but rather large circles around the throne.  Some get frustrated in the local church that we do not naturally agree on everything.  But this is what Bonhoeffer calls a false idealism. Brotherhood and sisterhood is a reality brought about despite our differences not because of our agreement on every issue.  The appeals in scripture is not to divide but to love and to be one-physically. Consumerism calls us to find what I agree with that best fits me.  There are people who church hop to the best preacher, the best program, and this changes regularly.  But the person who learns to fulfill their calling where God has placed them, being missionaries to their own fellowship community are healthier.  The church is healthier too when people are working together to be one instead of forming small groups to win an issue. We are to be one as Jesus is one with the Father.  There is a difference between the Father and the Son but there is some amazing oneness there too.

Prayer: Help me to seek oneness with you and oneness with others Lord.    

7/21/13- A Prayer for Protection and Unity

 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world,and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.  (John 17:11)

Thoughts: Jesus prayed for two things that Christians continue to struggle for- protection and unity.  Perhaps He knew we would struggle and wrestle for these two things that continue to tear at the edges of the Church, so He prayed for them.  It is especially important to note that Jesus publicly prayed these things in the hearing of his disciples as one of the last things he did on this earth.  Some say this was another part of his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane where he prayed so hard drops of blood fell from him.  The unity and protection of his children-his disciples- his little brothers and sisters was important to Christ.
    The protection and unity of the Church finds power in the name of Jesus Christ- the name given Him by the Father.  Jesus means the Lord saves, while Christus is a title meaning the anointed one.  We do not need to be afraid to mention the name of Jesus- for it is our power and strength that protects us and unites us.
    If Jesus prayed for these things- we should also pray for and work for these things.  

Prayer: Lord, protect and unite your Church by the power of your name.  

Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane- Gethsemane was the place of olive presses- where different olives were pressed and united into one oil container. So we are pressed and made to be one.  It is harder for the church to be united in times of real peace and prosperity.