What does it truly mean to be unified in a world that profits from our division? This week we unpack how Jesus' final prayer for his followers in John 17 reveals that unity isn't about institutional mergers or superficial agreement, but about a radical, boundary-breaking love that the world cannot produce on its own. We're challenged to see how Christian unity cuts through every worldly division—ethnicity, economics, politics, education—not by erasing our differences, but by finding our primary identity in Christ above all else. The sermon draws a sobering parallel between the linguistic violence that preceded the Irish Troubles and the divisive rhetoric saturating our culture today, reminding us that words matter and that the church's witness depends on our ability to love across differences. What's most striking is the claim that God loves us with the same love He has for Jesus—a truth so transformative that when we truly grasp it, we no longer need to compare, compete, or elevate ourselves above others. This secure identity in Christ's love becomes the foundation for practicing peace in a world addicted to conflict. We're invited to refuse tribalism, practice radical listening even with our enemies, and hold truth and love together rather than choosing one over the other. The question becomes deeply personal: what might change in our habits, character, and speech if we actually lived with Jesus as our primary allegiance above everything else?Video Credit: Conclave. Directed by Edward Berger. United States/United Kingdom: Focus Features, 2024.