The central theme of this week’s Gospel is unity. Jesus prays that all believers ‘may be one’, just as He and the Father are one. This unity is established in the very relationship between the Father and the Son. Jesus asks that all believers be united ‘in us’, sharing in the divine life and love that exists within the Godhead. Such unity serves a purpose: ‘so that the world may believe that it was you who sent me’. The visible unity and love among Christians serves as a powerful symbol to the world of Christ’s love for all. This echoes Jesus’ earlier teaching: ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’ (Jn 13:35) Unity and love among believers are not ends in themselves. They are signs to us of Christ love for us, inviting us to take up Jesus mission of love.