The last supper farewell of Jesus (Jn 13-17) concludes with prayer — for the consecration of his disciples (17:9-19) and for unity and love among all believers (17:20-26). The unity of all believers is accomplished by the death of Christ (11:50-52; 12:32) because the reconciliation of humankind with God enables all people to be reconciled to one another (see Eph 2). This unity brought about by the sacrificial death of Christ becomes real and effective among Christians in the sharing of the eucharistic bread and cup (1 Cor 10:16-17; 11:26-29). Love, which means full openness of one person to another, is the result of this eucharistic sharing in the one body and blood of Christ. Note that Paul’s great teaching on the unity and love of Christians (1 Cor 12-14) stems directly from his teaching on the Lord’s supper (1 Cor 11:17-34). Unity and love in celebration is both the expression and the source of unity and love in the Christian life. Through this unity and love, the "name" (= the full reality) of God continues to be revealed to the world. On the other hand, to the extent that Christians fail to become one with what they celebrate in the eucharist, the revelation of God is obscured in the world today.

The account of Stephen’s martyrdom bears many similarities to the trial and death of Jesus as told in the Gospels. In the trial, false witnesses accuse him of profaning the temple (6:13-14; see Mk 14:53-59), his hearers violently take him outside the city, and during the stoning, Stephen’s words echo those of Jesus: giving up his spirit (see Jn 19:30), forgiveness (see Lk 23:34), and a loud cry (see Lk 23:46). Stephen not only dies for Christ, he dies with him and in him. The power of martyrdom is not merely one of example but of participation in the same reality of Christ’s sacrifice. The conversion and missionary work of Saul-Paul (v 58, see 8:1-3; 9:1-29) is clearly seen as the fruit of Stephen’s blood shed.

The courageous witness of the good who suffer at the hand of evil is itself a sign of the judgment of God and a cause for rejoicing. Response: "The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth."

These final verses sum up the message of the whole book of Revelation —Christ is the center of all human history, and he personally is the reward and goal of all who persevere in holiness and faith in him. The Church, living in the power of the Spirit, is the Bride of Christ, longing for union with him and crying out, "Come!" The eucharist is the pledge of his coming. Those who hear his word and taste his banquet of sacrifice live in a posture of anticipation. "Come, Lord Jesus!"

1. What obstacles are there to Christian love and unity in the Church today? In your own life?

2. What signs should the Christian life give of longing for Christ’s coming in fullness?