1 – ONE
(UNITY, FIRST)
There is only one God. “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!” (Deut 6:4).
“There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all” (1 Tim 2:5-6).
According to Peter, “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved” (Acts 4:12).
UNITY
One stands for the Most Holy Trinity. Though there is only one God (1 Tim 2:5; Jm 2:19; 1 Cor 8:4; Gal 3:20) there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So, one is also a sign of unity (Jn 10:30).
Jesus prayed for the unity of his disciples and their successors: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me” (Jn 17:20-21).
There will be only one flock with one shepherd. “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd” (Jn 10:16).
Paul reminded the need of unity: “I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:1-6).
FIRST
Jesus preexisted with the Father. He is “the firstborn of all creation” (Col 1:15). “He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent” (Col 1:18). “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:20). He is the first and the last (Rev 1:17).
REFLECTION
We should worship the only one and true God. We also must remain united with Jesus who said, “Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me” (Jn 15:4).