The Monday after Exaudi Sunday
Posted on June 2, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. John 17:20-26 (NKJV)
17:20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who 1will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Devotion
Of all of the things Jesus could have prayed for, what He wanted most was unity with Him and among believers. So we ask the inevitable question, “How was Jesus’ prayer answered?” First, the holy Christian Church is united and always will be. Those whom Christ knows to be true believers comprise the invisible Church. They are united in their faith in Christ. It is as we say at the conclusion of the Nicene Creed: “I believe one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins…”
At the same time, we know there are many for whom Jesus died who spurn His salvation. There are many others who believe in some points of faith, but not all, or they add to what is already there. It’s plain for any eye to see that Christendom on earth has division. There are even divisions among the name “Lutheran.” The one true faith has been “edited” by false teachers, with deletions and add-ons. There is the influx of ‘reason’, compromise, and sentiment. Therefore, there are a myriad of ‘flavors’ of Christianity, all claiming they’ve got it right. We know this checkerboard Christianity is not right. It is not what God intended for His Church. And so, the Church on earth will continue to endure persecution for her unyielding stance. May the Lord keep us always in His true unity.
Collect: Almighty, everlasting God, make us to have always a devout will toward Thee, and to serve Thy Majesty with a pure heart; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
