The Lord promised to make the two nations of Israel one nation under one prince, who would be a descendant of David. This promise is being more than fulfilled in Jesus, a Descendant of David. In fact, the Father's plan of salvation is "to bring all things in the heavens and on earth into one under Christ's headship" (Eph 1:10). Thus, Jesus is praying now "that all may be one" as He and the Father are One (Jn 17:21). Moreover, "it was in one Spirit that all of us, whether Jew or Greek, slave or free, were baptized into one body" (1 Cor 12:13).

By His death, Jesus made it possible for "all the dispersed children of God" to be gathered into one (Jn 11:52). By dying to ourselves (Lk 9:23) and by continually carrying about in our bodies Jesus' death (2 Cor 4:10), we bring about unity. For example, we often must suffer a "death" in being rejected by those with whom we share our faith in order for them to be reunited with the Lord and His Church. To promote unity between factions, we must suffer a death in being persecuted. To be united with our enemies, we have to die to unforgiveness, pride, bitterness, and resentment. To reunite marriages and families, we often suffer a death in doing self-sacrificing fasting and prayer.

Join with Jesus in uniting all people. Die with Jesus.

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, XXX 11, 2011

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