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Easter Season · Sixth Sunday of Easter · Year C

John 17:20-26

Jesus Prays for Unity

May 21, 2028

Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles, Duccio di Buoninsegna
Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles, Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308–1311Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena (from the Maestà)
Another of the Maestà's narrative panels: the farewell discourse, painted as a conversation in a room rather than as a departure.John 14 to 17 is a long goodbye that keeps saying it is not really a goodbye, and the panel keeps everyone in the same room.Duccio di BuoninsegnaThe founder of Sienese painting, who kept the gold and the Byzantine patterns while letting real feeling into the faces.Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena (from the Maestà)The cathedral's own museum, built into an unfinished nave, where Duccio's Maestà has been kept since it was taken off the altar.Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena (from the Maestà)
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 14:23-29Jn 14:23-29Alt. GospelJohn 17:20-26Jn 17:20-26
Second ReadingRev. 21:10-14, 22-23Rev 21:10-14, 22-23Alt. 2nd ReadingRev. 22:12-14, 16-17, 20Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
First ReadingActs 15:1-2, 22-29
Responsorial PsalmPs. 67:2-3, 5, 6+8 (4)Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6+8 (4)

Overview & Insights

"That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you." (John 17:21)

In the closing lines of his farewell prayer, Jesus prays not only for the disciples at the table but for everyone who will come to believe through their word, asking that they share the same oneness he has with the Father. He ends by naming the love that has always existed between Father and Son and asking that it now indwell his followers.

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Take it further: John 17:20-26

Commentary

Commentary on John 17:20-26Commentary on Jn 17:20-26 workingpreacher.org

The one Lutheran voice on Jesus's prayer that all may be one.

John 17 (Haydock Commentary)Jn 17 (Haydock Commentary) haydockcommentary.com

Catholic Haydock notes on the high priestly prayer.

The Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year C catholicproductions.com

Catholic Productions' walkthrough of this Sunday's Mass readings, centered on John 17.

John 17 Commentary: The High Priestly PrayerJn 17 Commentary: The High Priestly Prayer enduringword.com

Full evangelical commentary on the chapter.

John 17 CommentaryJn 17 Commentary preceptaustin.org

Devotional verse-by-verse word study on the same chapter.

Background & Word Study

John 17:20 InterlinearJn 17:20 Interlinear biblehub.com

Greek text and parsing for the reading's opening verse.

The Church Fathers

John 17 (Catena)Jn 17 (Catena) catenabible.com

Patristic comment keyed to this verse of the prayer.

Sermons & Reflections

John 17:20-26 CommentaryJn 17:20-26 Commentary cepreaching.org

Reformed preaching commentary on the prayer for unity.

John 17:20-26 CommentaryJn 17:20-26 Commentary cepreaching.org

A second, differently dated preaching commentary on the same reading.

John 17:20-26 CommentaryJn 17:20-26 Commentary cepreaching.org

A third preaching commentary offering another angle on the same text.

Worship & Prayers

Easter 7 (C) sermons episcopalchurch.org

Anglican preaching resources for the Sunday this prayer for unity is proclaimed.

Podcast

Bishop Barron: The Holy Spirit Will Teach You Everything Word on Fire

Bishop Barron preaches this Sunday’s Mass readings, including John 17:20-26.

Study Hub

John 17Jn 17 biblehub.com

Aggregator chapter page linking multiple commentaries.

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