Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the seventh week of Easter, May 21st, 2026

Delivered by Angeline from the Parish of Saint Catherine of Siena in the Archdiocese of Seatle, USA. Acts of the Apostles 22: 30; 23: 6-11; Rs psalm 16: 1-2a.5.7-8.9-10.11; John 17: 20-26.MAY WE ARE UNITED Our meditation today has the theme: May We are United.There was a 5-year-old boy who was praying in his room. His parents heard fromoutside the room as if the boy was talking to someone. They peeked in theopening of the door, and saw the child looking up with both hands open. Heexclaimed in his prayer: "Lord Jesus, I often pray to you, but I havenever heard you pray for me. Now I want to hear you pray for me." That boy actually wants to know whether Jesus praysfor us humans or He only listens then later answers to our requests. This isalso often a question of many of us. Today our Gospel reading describes a veryspecial prayer of Jesus, namely, he prays that there will be unity between Godand human beings and between every man and woman. So Jesus prays for each of usand everyone around us, that may we are united. Why is His prayer that may weare united and not we should be united? The most obvious reason is that God gives every humanperson freedom to choose the way to unity or disunity. This is the same ashuman freedom to obey the Lord or to go against Him. Our life is an arena ofplay and struggle to determine who chooses God and who does not. Therefore,human freedom is a natural gift that helps us to determine the actual conditionof our faith and spiritual growth. Another reason is perhaps we are not aware thatpreparation is a very important element in our lives. Jesus' prayer intentionshould encourage us to prepare in building up a genuine fellowship between us,the sons and daughters of God on earth. This preparation aims to increase ourtaste and longing for an eternal communion in heaven which will be achievedafter every one's death. We, therefore, must not underestimate or ignore everyform of unity that we build together in this world. We will disappoint the Lordif we underestimate it. The reason which should be the most important one isthere is only one God who has an eternal dwelling place in heaven. We have togo through a long journey and process in order to get there. There is no magicgame or an express transportation to reach there. If there is no such process,then one might think that a miracle will be enough to bring all of us togetherinto heaven. However, in God's will there should be a process for us to follow.Therefore, we are in accord with Jesus who prays for us that "may we areunited", and we also continue to pray in this manner.                                                                                                                                   The Lord gives us the gift hope. God does noteliminate our hopes and replace them with a must to happen at once. Thereforeour prayers always have the elements of "hopefully", "may"or "will be", as a sign of our hope. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ...  Omost loving God, may the Holy Spirit unite us in this world and prepare us foreternal communion with You in heaven. Hail Mary, full of grace … In the name ofthe Father ...