The gospel of John is the most conscientiously cosmic of the four different versions we have of Jesus’ life, death, ascension, and resurrection. With his opening words John retells the Genesis creation story with his focus on the indivisible relationship between the Logos and the cosmos, the Word and the world. Logos is that pre-existing relationship which stands before the creation of all things. Logos is that unity which makes the diversity of all creation possible.

In today’s text Jesus continues what is essentially Jesus’ own personal “Lord’s prayer.” He returns to the theme of the divine unity that defines the relationship between himself and the Father. Jesus’ prayer is for all his disciples the ones who sit at the table with him that Passover night and the ones from all future gener…