Jesus Prays for All Believers
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to eavesdrop on Jesus' private conversations with the Father? In John 17:20-26, we get exactly that privilege, and what we discover is absolutely mind-blowing. Jesus is conducting a cosmic conference call, speaking not just about the disciples sitting right there with Him, but about every single person who would ever come to faith through their witness. That includes the farmer in medieval France, the missionary in 19th-century China, your grandmother lighting candles at daily Mass, and yes, even you reading this right now. It's as if Jesus is looking through a divine telescope, seeing the entire constellation of believers across time, and He's praying specifically for each twinkling star in that vast family of faith.
What strikes me most about this prayer is how Jesus talks about believers like we're part of some grand cosmic dance. "That they may be one, as we are one" (John 17:22) - Jesus is inviting us into the same rhythm of love that pulses between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This isn't about creating Christian clones or expecting everyone to worship exactly the same way. Instead, it's like a magnificent orchestra where the violin doesn't try to sound like the trumpet, but both instruments create something beautiful when they follow the same conductor. Jesus is praying that we Catholics, with all our wonderfully different personalities, gifts, and even quirks, would somehow harmonize so perfectly that people would stop and say, "There's something different about those people, and I want what they have."
Here's where it gets really exciting: Jesus prays that our unity would be so attractive that "the world may believe" (John 17:21). Think about that for a moment - He's trusting us with His greatest evangelization strategy! It's not complicated apologetics or fancy programs (though those have their place). It's simply Christians loving each other so genuinely that it becomes irresistible evidence of God's existence. When Catholics choose mercy over judgment, when we celebrate each other's successes instead of competing, and when we show up for one another in crisis, we're literally answering Jesus' prayer and becoming His hands and feet in the world. Every parish potluck where genuine friendships form, every time someone volunteers to help without being asked, every moment we choose to see Christ in the difficult person sitting next to us in the pew - we're participating in God's master plan for reaching hearts.
The prayer culminates with something that should make every Catholic's heart skip a beat: Jesus asks that "the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them" (John 17:26). Read that again slowly - Jesus is praying that the exact same love the Father has for the Son would somehow find its home in us. This isn't just about being nice people or following the commandments (though we certainly should). This is about becoming living tabernacles of divine love, walking around with the same heart that moved Jesus to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and die for our sins. When we truly grasp this incredible destiny, following Jesus stops feeling like a burden and starts feeling like the greatest adventure imaginable. We're not just trying to get to heaven someday - we're being invited to bring a little bit of heaven to earth today, one loving act at a time.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
