When, dear God, shall Christians all be one? It is a first-century inquiry. It is a here-and-now recurring question. Countless programs have been launched. Numerous proposals have been given. Only God knows how many problems have risen in our quest for Christian unity.

We live and minister in the twenty-first century in ways not that different from what our spiritual ancestors experienced. Have some things and relationships improved, especially since Vatican II? The answer without doubt is a resounding, "Yes" but, as we applaud, we are caught by recognizing that much has yet to come into place.

Chapter 17 of the Gospel of John or Jesus' "High priestly prayer" still calls out to you and me. The verses under consideration speak with majestic authority and demand to be heard until all preci…