6th Sunday of Easter

Communion

John 17:20-26

A Christian community would not be exempt from conflicts and differences of opinions, but problems would always be resolved because of love that binds every faithful.

This was the situation described in the first reading.  The apostles deliberated and their decision not to burden the Christian community of Antioch with laws of circumcision and the prohibition of eating meat of strangled animals was met with approval.  The community was united.

In the gospel, Jesus prayed, "May they all be one as You are in me and I am in You."  Another word of unity is communion and heaven is pictured as the "Communion of saints", being united in love with one another and with God.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that the communion of saints connotes three other communions: Communion of faith, of sacrament, and of charity.

Communion of faith is unity in the faith that we have received from the apostles;

Communion of sacraments binds us in Jesus Christ.  The Eucharist brings about communion.

And communion of charity, which consists of acts of charity done for the good of all.

If we observe these things, then we become one family of God. "For if we continue to love one another and to join in praising the Most Holy Trinity - all of us who are sons of God and form one family in Christ - we will be faithful to the deepest vocation of the Church."  (CCC 959)