Commentary on the Gospel of
Was it necessary for Jesus to pray? We see Jesus, the Son of God, often praying to his Father in heaven. When we understand the word “Prayer” as a conversation with God, Jesus’ act of praying is better understood. Our prayer must become a genuine conversation with God instead of a mechanical recitation of the prayers we have learned.
Today we hear the conclusion of Jesus' prayer at his last meal with the disciples. He emphasises the importance of remaining united to him. Only if we Christians remain united in Christ will the mission of evangelisation be fruitful and enable others to come to believe in Jesus.
Considering the other as our brother or sister is always challenging. Jesus prays that we, his brothers and sisters, have the generosity to reach out to help one another, understand one another, and lean on one another, where mercy and compassion are a priority.
Unity is the fruit of the Holy Spirit we are aspiring for. Jesus concludes his prayer by asking that we all love each other. Pope Francis composed a beautiful prayer for fraternity in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti. Let us join him and pray:
