We Are The City Harmonic Prøve

"One"

The large table is cleared as dinner is finished.  In an astounding evening, Jesus has washed the feet of his disciples and taught with a fervor and clarity they’d not yet seen.  In a short time, he has shocked the disciples by predicting his betrayal, his death, and Peter’s denial.  In reading this section of John’s gospel I’m left with the image of a steaming locomotive, hurtling onwards and building in momentum.  As the train approaches its eventual destination - the Cross and Resurrection - Jesus stops to pray for us.  So I have to assume that this prayer matters. 

Belief in the Trinity is essential to the Christian faith, and this prayer is a perfect example of it.  God, who exists throughout all of our story and Scripture in three distinct persons, is One.  He says so himself!  Incredibly, His prayer for us is that we, his followers, would be one as He is one.  Our song “One” echoes this prayer.  It is a prayer for the wholeness of the self before God, and unity in the Church. 

Here I stand, at the cross
Wholly saved in the holy One
Body, mind, heart and soul
One

In our day and age it can be tempting to divide our lives, to live life in boxes - a spiritual box, a physical box, an intellectual box - and even to create a hierarchy between them.  We must instead look upon human life as having distinct parts that make up one person.  When God looks at us, he sees a person, not just a soul or mind.  We must see ourselves - and others - as whole persons, and love them, and be loved, accordingly. 

Perhaps we should pray: “Jesus, make us one as You are One.”

Here we are, many parts
One in Spirit and of one heart
The body of the living God
One 

Only a few years later the Early Church had developed a kind of diversity, too.  Each city and culture brought distinct challenges to light.  The Apostles Peter and Paul would soon argue over the nature of reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles. Though Paul would win the day, his continued letter-writing to the Churches never seemed to be one of rejection, but instead an invitation to live as God’s family.  He responded with respect and love, and the voice of a brother. 

So, like Jesus, we pray: “make us one as You are one.”

-Elias Dummer, The City Harmonic