Fr. Michael Williams

Many years ago when I used to regularly attend Anfield I had a great disgust for anything associated with Manchester United. The very mention of them would immediately result in the hackles on the back of my neck being raised. A friend of mine, who was a Leeds fan, also disliked Man.Utd. intensely. We gave Manchester United a new name; we used to call them ‘the scum’.

So when I started at Ushaw College to train for the priesthood, I was really surprised to discover that there was a Manchester United fan on the same corridor as me, who actually turned out to be a really good man. He would make me welcome and make me the occasional cup of tea. As we chatted we discovered we had many things in common; we shared some of the same interests. Occasionally we will meet up, in either Liverpool or Manchester, and I’ve since discovered other Manchester United fans who are also good people.

What brought about this unity between the two tribes of Liverpool and Manchester United? I would have to say that it was the Church. The Church brought us together to go beyond petty differences. We often hear about Church disunity, but I thought I would share with you how the Holy Spirit brought two warring factions together to be good friends. It is the Holy Spirit, God, who reconciles people. The Spirit is at work when, “enemies begin to speak to one another, [when] those who were estranged join hands in friendship, and [ when] nations seek the way of peace together”(EP Reconciliation II).

It is Jesus’ desire and will that those who follow him will be united. By the way that’s not Manchester United or Leeds United, but united with God and with one another. Jesus prays for that kind of unity which is rooted in God, because without God’s Spirit unity is not possible.

In the gospel we’ve just heard it says, “Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: ‘Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me. May they all be one”. Jesus is praying for unity amongst his followers. Jesus desires unity. We too are called to pray for and desire unity. It is the will of Christ that his followers share the unity that Jesus has with the Father. The unity between the Father and Son is so real that Jesus says, “The Father and I are one”. He wants his followers to share that unity. And the unity that Jesus prays for is clearly rooted in God. “May they be one in us as you are in me and I am in you”. Jesus wants and prays for all his followers to be united in God. Jesus wants his followers to have deep roots in God so that we are in union with God. Jesus prays, “may be one as we are one”. The children making their first Holy Communion are entering into that union with Jesus in a very special way today.

To be united requires the Holy Spirit, because unity is a gift from God. God Himself is a unity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- Three Persons, One God.

Following Jesus’ example let us pray to the Father that all Christians “may be one” as Jesus himself is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit can make a bigoted Liverpool fan good friends with a Manchester United fan, then anything is possible with God. Alleluia.