that all may be one

Jesus saves us; all of us.  What does he save us all from?  Sin and death.  How does he do this?  By dying; by dying - for all of us.

"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" (Romans 5:8, 10).

It's hard sometimes to grasp: with questions regarding faith, Christians of all walks of life - of various denominations, etc. - seem to all have this one fundamental belief in common.  Yet it also seems to me that all the many forms that such faith - such a belief - take, among the various Christian groups, is what is easier to grasp, knowing that there are "other forms" - not just one.  It is perhaps easier because it is easier at times to remain in our weaknesses and sins that cause painful divisions among Christian groups.  "I pray that they all be one," is what Jesus prayed (John 17:21); when will we fully make that our prayer as well?

The graces poured out from the Cross, from that redemptive sacrifice of the Lamb, are real.  Those graces make Christian unity possible.  Unity must therefore necessarily come from Jesus; there is no one else who can bring about that unity!  "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23).