As We Are One
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. - John 17:22-23
The Trinity isn’t just an abstract theological concept - it’s the foundational reality of the universe. God is inherently relational within God’s own self. As we pick up from this passage, Jesus and his Father are one - not the same, but completely united. When we add the Holy Spirit into the mix, as many scripture passages do, we end up with one God and three persons within God. Yes, that’s confusing, but it’s also hopeful because it reminds us that God’s not some cosmic force but a relational reality.
So our invitation is to become like God - to demonstrate that kind of oneness. That’s what Jesus is praying for here. He recognizes how easy it is to separate ourselves, to create ‘others’ who are not as good, not as important, not as valued. But within God, there is oneness, there is unity. What if we treated other people the way that Jesus treats the Father or the Spirit treats Jesus? What if we entered into that kind of dance of love (like we looked at yesterday - the perichoresis)?
Ask yourself today, “What keeps me from being united with others?” Take some time to think and pray on that question today.