Johannine Hours               John 17.20-21                   January 1996
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[The "Johannine hours" are meant as a way of seeking God in silence and
prayer in the midst of our daily life. During the course of a day, take a
moment to read the Bible passage with the short commentary and to reflect
on the questions which follow. Afterwards, a small group people can meet
to share what they have discovered and perhaps for a time of prayer.] 

Jesus makes the development of faith depend on the unity of the disciples
among themselves, of which the foundation and model are in his communion
with the Father. 

This unity of Christ's friends, essential so "that the world may
believe", is combined with their being sent out for the mission that
Jesus confides to them: "Go out to the whole world, proclaim the Good
News to all creation". (Mk 16.15) 

Christians are invited to live this double fidelity: to being sent out
and to unity, not as two poles which are antagonistic but which are
deeply linked. Unity precedes and gives substance to the witness.
Simultaneously this unity is called to grow larger, to become a reality,
to be proclaimed within the context of a church that is expanding
geographically - that embraces the diversity of cultures and of peoples
and makes its way through history - it has to last from one generation to
another, and the ages. 

Thus, living from our faith, in the trusting in God, commits us to
seeking first of all communion. Fraternal love becomes the first
criterion which guides our search for truth, for service or for prayer. 

People who commit themselves to communion are accomplishing what is
esential so that the world may believe, and to make accessible to
others,and to make them discover the sources of trust. "The reality is
the body of Christ". (Col 2.17) 

This unity is not an inaccessible ideal that is finally discouraging. It
already exists in the communion of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
There is the source of our vocation and our momentum. Human beings are
called to reproduce the likeness of the God who is Trinity by being
different persons with the unity of one communion. 

    - Where is responsibility for unity confided to me? 
    - How to live this unity, this "holding together" which is necessary
      in sharing our faith with others, in a context where we are
      dispersed or have little availability? 
    - How can my personal witness link up with my commitment in the life
      of any local community? 


"Johannine Hours" - 01/96 - ©71250 Taizé-Community, France.
taize@cpe.ipl.fr 




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