Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11b-19)
In today’s first reading Paul is spared stoning by the
disunity of the Sanhedrin. Astutely
observing that both Pharisees and Sadducees are present, Paul identifies himself
as a Pharisee. The Pharisees then side
with him when he claims that he is accused for expressing their belief in the
resurrection of the dead. The deadlocked
Sanhedrin cannot make a verdict.
Despite Paul’s good fortune, disunity hampers a society from
achieving the common good. Certainly,
unity is meant to serve the truth, but disunity is always problematic. This is why in the gospel Jesus prays that
his disciples be unified in the truth that he has taught them. When the truth in a developing situation is
difficult to determine, Jesus would have his disciples discern it together in
love.
The world today is sick with divisions. In the United States, Democrats and
Republicans seem to be at odds on most every issue. Throughout the world migrants are clamoring at
the doors of economically developed countries.
People often lack the goodwill to make sacrifices for the benefit of
all. We should ask the Lord to prepare us
to make the necessary sacrifices for the good of all.
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